Learning about the law and legal profession grew on me.

When I started as a Chicago Daily Law Bulletin reporter in 1988, an editor asked if I was passionate about the law. I said I didn’t know.

He said that I would know soon. That was true.

My first assignment was covering the Cook County Circuit Court in the Daley Center press room.

It was a competitive environment where I had to learn the inner workings of the court system quickly. I did that by developing relationships with court staff, attorneys and judges. I tried to earn their trust by reporting and writing accurate and balanced stories.

John Flynn Rooney has been a staff writer at the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin since 1988 and has covered state and federal courts and attorney discipline. Earlier in his career, he was a reporter with the City News Bureau of Chicago covering crime, courts and public schools. He also was a reporter for the Tampa Tribune covering county government. Rooney has a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield.

After four years covering county courts and the 1st District Appellate Court, I switched to the beat at the Dirksen Federal Court. In the early- to mid-1990s, I reported on a handful of corruption cases against lawyers, judges and other elected officials, including Thomas J. Maloney and Adam N. Stillo Sr., both former Cook County circuit judges.

Covering those trials meant attending morning court sessions until about noon. Then I would race back to press room and write a story about the testimony that morning for a 1:30 p.m. deadline.

After 4½ years at the federal courthouse — including writing about 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decisions — I returned to the Daley Center in 1997.

I reported on and wrote extensively about the tenures of three Cook County chief judges – the late Harry G. Comerford, Donald P. O’Connell and Timothy C. Evans.

I became a general assignment reporter in 2003. My main areas of focus were attorney and judicial discipline and judicial elections, along with related fundraising.

I take great pride in the work on the hundreds of discipline articles. Those stories provide a way to inform lawyers and judges about situations that could lead to misconduct troubles.

This recap of my Daily Law Bulletin career leads to this: It is time for me to retire effective on Monday.

This is a difficult decision.

But as I wrote in May 2014, I have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. This progressive disease destroys nerves, causes progressive paralysis and is eventually fatal.

There is currently no cure.

I wrote that I wanted to work as long as possible, and I have.

My plans did not include to stop working at just shy of age 56. But my condition dictates that action.

Due to my inability to walk, I use a power wheelchair for mobility.

My right hand is gnarled and I can only type with a few fingers on my left hand. The atrophy also began settling in that hand.

Conducting long telephone interviews is difficult because of my slow speech and typing.

The time has come to call it a career after 27 years at the Daily Law Bulletin.

It has been my great honor and privilege to write about the members of the Illinois legal community.

I especially appreciate the patience of lawyers and judges who encountered my slow-poke typing during the past several months.

Also, I am grateful for the strong support from Law Bulletin Publishing Company CEO Sandy Macfarland, Chief Operating Officer Brewster Macfarland, President Mike Kramer, Publisher S. Richard Gard Jr., Editor Pat Milhizer, along with many other colleagues.

The support, prayers and well wishes from many members of the legal community is inspiring.

Continued thoughts and prayers are appreciated.

I plan to continue spending quality time enjoying life with family and friends.

I can be reached via e-mail at jfroon08@gmail.com; on Twitter @JohnFlynnRooney and on Facebook.

Many thanks.

John Flynn Rooney