1947
Born in Chicago, Illinois to Joseph and Josephine Szymanski.
1969
Receives a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from the University of Illinois.
1970
Is inducted to the U.S. Army for nineteen months.
1976
Receives a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois.
1977
Is admitted to practice in the state of Illinois.
1978
Becomes an assistant public defender for Cook County Public Defenders in Chicago, Illinois.
1999
Is admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court.
2005
Begins dating JoAnn Turko and the two remain committed to their relationship.
2009
Serves as an attorney in the case Ronald Kitchen v. Jon Burge.
2012
Retires as a lawyer.