Otto Kerner Jr. (August 15, 1908 – May 9, 1976) was an American jurist and politician. He served as the 33rd governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968 and chaired the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders (the Kerner Commission).

In 1947 Kerner was appointed the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. In 1954 he was elected Cook County judge and was reelected in 1958. In 1960 he resigned from his judgeship to run for governor of Illinois.

Otto Kerner is the name of two political figures from Illinois: Otto Kerner Sr. (1884–1952), Attorney General of Illinois (1932–1938) & judge on U.S. Court of Appeals for Seventh Circuit (1938–1952) Otto Kerner Jr. (1908–1976), Governor of Illinois (1961–1968) & judge on U.S. Court of Appeals for Seventh Circuit (1968–1974)

May 16, 2024 · Otto Kerner gave his name to a report that called for enormous changes in American society to address racial disparities, but his reputation for integrity suffered when he became the first (not the last) Illinois governor convicted of a crime.

Otto Kerner, Jr. (August 15, 1908 – May 9, 1976) was an American politician. He was a Democrat. He was the Governor of Illinois from January 1961 to May 1968. He is best known for chairman of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders and for accepting bribes.

Apr 11, 2022 · Otto Kerner (1961-1968): convicted in 1973. The first former governor to be convicted of federal corruption charges in Illinois was Otto Kerner, who was convicted for bribery involving...

In 1961, his occupation is listed as governor of illinois in Illinois, United States. He died on 9 May 1976, in Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, at the age of 67, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, United States.

As U.S. District Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1947 to 1954 and as a Cook County judge from 1955 to 1960, Kerner reformed Illinois adoption procedures. Elected for two terms as governor in 1960 and 1964, he promoted economic development, education, mental health services, and equal access to jobs and housing.

May 10, 1976 · CHICAGO, May 9 (AP)—Former Illinois Gov. Otto Kerner died today, ending a two‐year battle with cancer and a fight to clear his name after conviction in a race‐track scandal three years ago....

Otto Kerner, Jr., served as the governor of Illinois from 1961-1968. Prior to his election as governor, Kerner was the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois from 1947-1954 and then a judge for the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County.