Tracy Pedersen

About

Tracy has been corporate counsel to the City of Springfield, Illinois, for eleven years. She has extensive experience in all aspects of municipal work, including public utilities. Her focus is real estate, administrative law, contracts, economic development, cemetery law and public finance. Ms. Pedersen also served as Acting Corporation Counsel under current Mayor J. Michael Houston. As a military spouse and former service member, she has insight into the myriad of legal issues that military families face.

Tracy has successfully litigated cases before the Illinois Commerce Commission, Illinois State Courts, the Fourth District Appellate Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Ms. Pedersen graduated with honors from the Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1999. She served as editor to the university's law journal, and clerked for the Illinois Attorney General's Office.

Education:

• Southern Illinois University School of Law, Carbondale, Illinois
• Juris Doctorate, December, 1999
• Cum Laude
• Southern Illinois University Law Journal
• Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois
• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, May 1995
• Summa Cum Laude

Publications:

• BRIBERY OR EFFECTIVE PROSECUTION-Should Prosecutors Be Allowed to Give Something of Value to a Witness?, 24 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY LAW JOURNAL 137, Fall 1999.

Organizations:

• American Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Government Bar Association
• Illinois National Guard Family Readiness Group
• National Guard Association of Illinois
• The Dana-Thomas House Foundation, Board of Directors

Admissions to Practice:

• Illinois State & Federal Courts
• United States Supreme Court

Legal experience:

Senior Assistant Corporation Counsel, Transactional Attorney
City of Springfield, Illinois (April 2004 to September 2011)

Prepared, negotiated and reviewed City contracts, annexation agreements and grants.
Advised on tax, real property and land subdivision issues. Served as Issuer's Counsel on municipal bond issues. Counsel to the Planning & Zoning Commission, the City Council on zoning matters and the Parking Court Hearing Officer. Represented the City in State and Federal litigation, and in matters before the Illinois Commerce Commission. Drafted ordinances.

Assistant Corporation Counsel, Supervising Attorney of Code Enforcement Division
City of Springfield, Illinois (October 2003 to April 2004)

Conducted administrative hearings and trials.
Managed administrative court process. Prosecuted ordinance violations, demolition cases. Supervised Collections Attorney and support staff.

Assistant Corporation Counsel, Collections Attorney
City of Springfield, Illinois (March 2000 to October 2003)

Oversaw collections process.
Prepared complaints. Conducted hearings and trials. Prosecuted ordinance violations. Administered bankruptcy matters.

Law Clerk
Illinois Attorney General's Office, Criminal Division, Springfield, Illinois (January 2000 to March 2000)

Researched legal issues. Appeared in court. Prepared cases for litigation. Assisted office attorneys.