Alma Learetta Tyson, Esq.
Experienced, Thoughtful and Fair
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Attorney Law Office of Learetta Tyson May, 1992 – May, 2019
Civil Litigation – Family Law, Domestic Relations, Probate, Juvenile Law and Personal Injury
Criminal Law – Felonies defended clients charged with murder, criminal sexual assault, drug possession; Misdemeanors – retail theft, DUIs
Federal Appeal: US v. Albert Jackson , No. 91-3063 Challenged the Federal sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine
Criminal Trial: People of the State of Illinois vs. Joseph Pinckney Charge: double homicide Finding: Not Guilty
Civil Appeals: Challenged decisions to terminate parental rights and attorney fees for appointed counsel
Adjunct Professor January 22, 2013 - May 9, 2013
Governor's State University , University Park, Il.
Taught Introductory Criminal Justice at Triton College to entry level college students - Examined critical issues and outcomes associated with juvenile justice system including gang behavior, policing strategies, legal standards appliced to juveniles and polices to reduce juvenile crime. Developed mid-term and final examinations and grading matrix to finalize grades.
ARBITRATOR – Circuit Court of Cook County
June 1995 – Present
Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee and Victim/Witness Specialist
U.S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE - N.D of Illnois
February, 1988- September 1990
Analyzed legislation, reviewed criminal justice studies, case law and issues and briefed the U.S. Attorney on crime prevention strategies and program development. Trained Assistant U. S. Attorneys in drug prevention strategies and proposed electronic monitoring and community policing programs that were adopted by Cook County Jail and the Chicago Police Department. Wrote LECC Newsletter for distribution to law enforcement officials in the N. D. of Illinois
LAW CLERK ILLINOIS
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY November 1987 – February, 1988
Reviewed loan applications for compliance with tax regulations promoting affordable housing
LAW CLERK – District of Columbia Bar Counsel January, 1986 – July 1987
Reviewed complaints against attorneys to determine if ethical violations occurred.
PRE-LAW EXPERIENCE
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
XEROX CORPORATION
November 1978 – December 1982
Marketed capital equipment to corporations and small businesses in Illinois and Indiana. Trained sales representatives in territory management and marketing strategies.
AUDITOR –
STATE OF ILLINOIS – PROGRAM INTEGRITY
December 1976 – June 1978
Audited physicians and other health care providers for compliance with Medicare/Medicaid regulations. Audited medical and financial records, calculated recoupment owed to the State and wrote audit reports and manuals.
COUNSELOR –
Firman Community Services
September, 1976 to December 1976
Counseled runaway teens (Master’s Paper: Multiple Impact Theory Dealing with Families in Crisis)
RESEARCH ASSOCIATE –
ILLINOIS LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION – December 1975-September 1976
Analyzed data regarding law enforcement programs
PROPOSALS ADOPTED : ACCOMPLISHMENTS
LECC/VW Committee: Proposed treating drug addiction as a disease and not a crime
CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT ADOPTED COMMUNITY POLICING PILOT PROGRAMS
COOK COUNTY JAIL ADOPTED ELECTRONIC MONITORING PROPOSAL TO REDUCE INMATE POPULATION AND SAVE COUNTY FUNDS
MAYOR RICHARD J. DALEY ADOPTED CHICAGO POLICE BICYCLE PATROL
ORGANIZED PRIVATE ATTORNEYS TO DISCUSS ISSUES AND CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH DELINQUENCY, ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES (merged with Cook County Bar Association)
ARGUED BEFORE THE 7th CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS MAY, 18, 1994
ISSUE: THE FEDERAL SENTENCING GUIDELINES FOR CRACK COCAINE
U.S. v. ALBERT JACKSON NO 91-3063
DISTINCTIONS:
#1 SALES REPRESENTATIVE XEROX CORPORATION – OAK BROOK, IL. 1980
TOP TERRITORY SALES REPRESENTATIVE XEROX CORPORATION – OAK BROOK, IL. 1980
GRADUATE TEACHING ASST UIC - 1974 -1975
EDUCATION
HOWARD SCHOOL OF LAW –
JURIS DOCTORATE – 1987
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS – CHICAGO –
MASTER OF ARTS CRIMINAL JUSTICE – 1977
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS – CHICAGO –
BACHELOR OF ARTS - CRIMINAL JUSTICE / PSYCHOLOGY- 1973
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES
Illinois 1992
Wisconsin 1991 licensed retired 2020
Admitted to Practice before the:U.S. District Court – Northern District of Illinois 1992
U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin 1992
U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Wisconsin 1992
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit -1992
REMARKS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
(Members of the LECC COMMITTEE - 1990)
U.S. Attorney Anton Valukas – “ Her integrity is of the highest order.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge, James McKenzie “I believe Learetta Tyson will perform in an outstanding capacity in any field she chooses.”
Chief, Organized Crime Division, Chicago Police Department, Elgia Cook, “As a spokeswoman and facilitator, her mastery and organization of the various responsibilities has been instrumental in the creation of a cooperative coalition of multi-level law enforcement officials for the Northern District of Illinois.”
Chief of Police – Downer’s Grove, George Graves “Thank you for your personal contributions and efforts. Your contributions to our program have been outstanding.”
Chief Toxicologist, Cook County Medical Examiner, Michael I Schaffer, “I commend the U.S. Atty’s Office for sending such an able and personable representative.”
MEMBERSHIPS
Chicago Council of Lawyers
PERSONAL
Widow and parent of one son, Alexander Walker
Enjoys yoga, classical and jazz music, movies and reading about history