Mary M. (Betsey) Madden

Chief Legal Counsel & Ethics Officer

Illinois Department of Human Rights

Mary M. (Betsey) Madden joined the Illinois Department of Human Rights in November 2017 as the agency’s Chief Legal Counsel and Ethics Officer. She advises the agency’s Director and staff in enforcement of the Illinois Human Rights Act and oversees the work of the Legal Division. Ms. Madden previously served as Personnel Counsel at the Illinois Department of Central Management Services, where she had responsibility for employment litigation matters and providing legal representation before the Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Human Rights Commission, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Within the State government, Ms. Madden also served for three years as Deputy Inspector General at the Office of Executive Inspector General (OEIG), where she managed the work of attorneys and investigators on matters under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act. Prior to the OEIG, Ms. Madden spent eight years as an Assistant Attorney General at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, representing the interests of the State in employment litigation matters in State and Federal courts, and before administrative agencies. In addition to her experience defending employment discrimination claims on behalf of the State, Ms. Madden also worked for several years in a small plaintiff-side employment litigation practice.

Prior to attending law school, Ms. Madden was a Federal Investigator with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in both their Chicago and Washington, D.C. offices. She is a graduate of Brown University and the Hamline University School of Law.