Frederic R. DeYoung

Frederic R. DeYoung (September 12, 1875 – November 16, 1934) was an American jurist and politician who served as a judge on the Supreme Court of Illinois (1924–1934), judge on the Superior Court of Cook County (1923–1924), judge on the original Circuit Court of Cook County, member of the Illinois House of Representatives (1915–1919), and the city attorney of Harvey, Illinois (1908–1919), among other public offices. DeYoung ran as a Republican for most of his political career. However, in his last campaign (his 1933 reelection to the Supreme Court of Illinois), he ran instead as a Democrat.

While serving on the Supreme Court of Illinois, DeYoung authored more than 440 opinions. Among the more notable opinions which DeYoung authored was the opinion he authored for the City of Aurora v. Burns case which supported the constitutionality of zoning. This opinion was quoted at length in the opinion for the landmark United States Supreme Court decision Village of Euclid v. Ambler Realty Co., which upheld the national constitutionality of land use zoning.

Early life and education DeYoung was born September 12, 1874, in Chicago, Illinois, to parents that had both immigrated as children to the United States from The Netherlands. At the time of his birth, his family resided in one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the city. However, when he was five years of age, DeYoung's family moved to the village of Roseland, Illinois, which was ethnically Dutch at the time. Several years later, his family moved to South Holland, Illinois, which was a main center of Chicago area's Dutch population.

After losing his 1918 campaign, he would serve as the first assistant attorney for the Sanitary District of Chicago.

Circuit Court of Cook County In 1921, Governor Frank Lowden appointed him to fill a vacancy on the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Superior Court of Cook County In 1923, DeYoung was elected to a judgeship on the Superior Court of Cook County.

Death DeYoung died on November 16, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois, as a result of a stroke. Serving as honorary pallbearers at his funeral were his fellow Illinois Supreme Court justices and former governors Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne, Charles S. Deneen, and Frank Lowden. DeYoung was buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery.

Supreme Court of Illinois