- November, 2000 & 2004& 2008 Re-elected DuPage County State's Attorney
- November, 1996 Elected DuPage County State's Attorney
- October 1, 1996 Sworn in as DuPage County State's Attorney
- 1991-1996 Chief of Criminal Division
- Supervised more than 50 prosecutors, 10 investigators, victim/witness advocates, law clerks and paralegals
- Initiated policy and procedures
- Responsible for training junior prosecutors
- 1986-1991 Deputy Chief of Criminal Division
- 1985-1986 Chief of Major Crimes Unit - Supervised prosecution of Drug Delivery Cases
- 1981-1996 Assistant State's Attorney - Moved up within the Criminal Division, trying cases first in Traffic Court, Misdemeanor Courtrooms, Juvenile Courtrooms and Felony Courtrooms
In total, tried over one hundred felony cases to verdict, including death penalty jury trials.
Legal and Law Related Activities
- Admitted to the Illinois Bar, 1981
- Admitted to Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 1981
- Admitted to the United States Supreme Court, 1996
- Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation, President 2000-2001
- American Bar Association
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Fight Crime - Invest in Kids Organization, Member
- DuPage County Bar Association, Member & Past Chairman of the Criminal Law Committee
- DuPage American Inns of Court, Member
- Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, Member
- National Louis University (Wheaton, IL), Adjunct Faculty Member(1988-2001)
- DuPage County Chiefs of Police Association, Member
- DuPage County Police Association, Member
- Interviewed by numerous television and radio programs (including Nightline, 60 Minutes, 20/20 and the BBC) to discuss law enforcement issues
- Frequent lecturer across the United States on law enforcement issues
- Trained federal, state and local police officers and prosecutors on numerous topics
- Author of numerous publications, training manuals, articles and legislative proposals
- Authored more than 100 legislative proposals that are now law including death penalty, juvenile justice and child support reforms
- Guest lecturer at John Marshall Law School, DePaul Law School, North Central College, Benedictine University and Northern Illinois University College of Law
- Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation presenter in 1996,2000,2004,2005
- Presenter at the Illinois State's Attorney Association Assembly
Awards
- International Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association (INEOA) Special Award of Honor, 2004
- Frederick Milton Thrasher Award,
- Public Official of the Year,
- Prosecutors' Bar Association, Prosecutor of the Year, 2001
- National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice (NABCJ) - Greater Illinois Chapter Appreciation Award, 2001
- Breaking Free, Inc. (Family Support Center) Appreciation Award, 2001
- Suburban Law Enforcement Academy Basic Training Program, Special Commendation, 2000
- Illinois Crime Commission, State's Attorney of the Year, 1999
- Bishop Arthur O'Neill Award for Outstanding Dedication to Catholic Education, 1999
- Award for Outstanding Prosecution Based Victim's Program from the Illinois Attorney General's Office, 1998
- Commendation for Distinguished Leadership as Chairman of the Criminal Law Committee, DuPage County Bar Association, 1997-1998
- United Hellenic Voters of America "1997 Man of the Year"
- Special Commendation from the DuPage County Chiefs of Police for Outstanding Gang and Organized Crime Prosecutions, 1996
- Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation Regional Vice President's Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy (Region 2), 1995-1996
- Special Commendation from the Village of Bartlett (Robles Murder Investigation), 1993
- Commendation for Participation in the Advanced Forensics Investigations Course, co-hosted by the FBI and the Naperville Police Department, 1992
- Special Commendation for Prosecutorial Excellence as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division from DuPage County State's Attorney Jim Ryan, 1988
- Special Commendation for Prosecutorial Excellence from DuPage County State's Attorney J. Michael Fitzsimmons, 1982
- Award Winning Administrator and Recipient of numerous additional awards and commendations for Prosecutorial Excellence from State's Attorneys, Law Enforcement Agencies and Victims
- Named 2007 Law & Politics Magazine "Illinois Super Lawyer"- Criminal Prosecution
Boards & Commissions
- Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation, President 2000-2001
- Illinois Missing & Murdered Children Task Force, Member
- A sub-committee of the Violence to Children Task Force, Member
- Illinois Governor's Commission to Re-Write the Criminal Code, Member
- Illinois Governor's Child Support Enforcement Task Force, Member
- Illinois Attorney General's Child Death & Serious Injury Forensic Advisory Board
- Illinois State's Attorney Association, President 2008
- Illinois State's Attorney Association, Legislative Committee
- Illinois Appellate Prosecutor's Office, Board of Directors Vice Chairman
- Illinois House of Representatives Capital Punishment Task Force, Member
- Northern Illinois Joint Terrorism Task Force, Member
- Criminal Law Edit, Alignment and Reform (CLEAR) Initiative Board of Commissioners
- DuPage County Major Crimes Task Force, Board of Directors
- DuPage County Children's Advocacy Center Advisory Board, Chairman
- DuPage County Gang Crimes Task Force, Chairman
- DuPage County Domestic Violence Advisory Board, Chairman
- DuPage County Juvenile Justice Council, Chairman
- DuPage County Chiefs of Police Association, Member
- DuPage County Family Shelter Service, Board of Directors
- John Marshall Law School, Board of Trustees
- Various Local Gang Crimes Task Forces, DuPage County Communities
Education
John Marshall Law School (Chicago, IL) Juris Doctor, 1981
- Placed 1st in the Intramural Moot Court Competition
- Named to the School's Constitutional Moot Court Team
- Football Scholarship
- Voted Football Team Captain
- Graduated with Honors
- Attended Sophomore-Senior years
- Football Scholarship
- Football Team Captain & Most Valuable Player
- Named to the National Honor Society for Academic Excellence
St. Phillip High School, (Chicago, IL) (Freshman year only - school closed in 1970)
St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School, (Chicago, IL)
- Football Team Captain
- Most Valuable Player
Personal Data
- Born on February 13, 1955
- Married Patti (Hill) on July 9, 1977
- Two Children, Nick and Jackie
- Resident of DuPage County Since 1974, currently in Wheaton
- Members of St. Daniel's Church, Wheaton
- Volunteer Coach for basketball, boxing and baseball
- Chicago Golden Gloves Light-Heavyweight Boxing Championship Winner during college years
- Chicago Park District Light-Heavyweight Boxing Championship Winner during college years
- One of 10 children growing up on Chicago's West Side
