[1] Robert F. Martwick Jr. is descended from a civically active Polish American family traditionally associated with Chicago Polonia.

His father was the Democratic Committeeman for Norwood Park Township and his uncle Richard Martwick served as Cook County Regional Superintendent of Education from 1970 until 1994.

[2] Martwick earned a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College in 1988, and went on to receive a Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School in 1996.

In 1996, he narrowly lost a race against Republican Senator Walter Dudycz, who at that time was Deputy Majority Leader, by less than 1% in 1996.

In 2002, Martwick unsuccessfully challenged Republican incumbent Peter N. Silvestri for Cook County Commissioner in the 9th district.

He is also assigned to the following committees: Elementary and Secondary Education: School Curric Policies; Revenue & Finance; and Transportation: Regulation, Roads.

[15] Martwick's provision created an "automatic objection" to the application for a conceal and carry permit made by persons who had been arrested 5 or more times in the previous 7 years (for any reason) and by persons who had been arrested 3 or more times in the previous 7 years for gang related activity.

On February 18, 2019, Lori Lightfoot (then a candidate in the 2019 Chicago mayoral election, which she would later go on to win), held a press conference in which she criticized this.