State’s Attorney Birkett Appoints New Civil Bureau Chief

DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph E. Birkett announced the appointment of Tom Downing as Chief of the Civil Bureau of his office.  Downing assumed the position and all of its duties as of December 1, 2004.  A seventeen (17) year veteran prosecutor of the office, Downing has served as Deputy Chief of the Civil Bureau for the past nine (9) years.  Following the July 2003 elevation of former Civil Bureau Chief Nancy Wolfe to the position of First Assistant State’s Attorney, the position of Civil Bureau Chief has remained vacant.  Up until now, the duties of the position had been covered by Downing as well as Deputy Chief Tom Stanfa.

Downing, 48, was first hired by then DuPage County State’s Attorney Jim Ryan in 1987 as an Assistant State’s Attorney assigned to the Civil Division.  He was promoted to Litigation Supervisor and then Deputy Chief of the Civil Bureau by then State’s Attorney Anthony Peccarelli in 1995.  Downing has litigated in both State and Federal Court and has handled many complex legal matters.  Most recently, Downing served as counsel for the State’s Attorney’s Office in the state and county suit against Lockformer involving the contamination of ground water and residential wells with the chemical Trichlorethylene.  He is currently handling major litigation involving civil rights, constitutional, and environmental and employment matters.

The Chief of the Civil Bureau supervises fifteen (15) Assistant State’s Attorneys assigned to the Bureau, which is organized into six Divisions: Collections; Public Health & Interest; County Government; Environmental/Land; Public Safety and Child Support Enforcement.

“Tom Downing is an outstanding prosecutor and a tremendous resource for our County’s government leaders,” commented State’s Attorney Birkett.  “He has earned this appointment through hard work and the extraordinary skills he has developed to address the complex issues the Civil Bureau addresses on a daily basis.”

Downing is a West Chicago resident and received his Bachelor of Arts from The University of Illinois in 1981.  In 1984 he obtained his Juris Doctor from Southern Illinois University Law School. 

“It is an honor to be appointed to this position,” commented Assistant State’s Attorney Downing.  “I am very proud of this accomplishment and am excited about working with State’s Attorney Birkett, my fellow Assistant State’s Attorneys and the DuPage County Board as the Chief of the Civil Bureau.  I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of DuPage County in this new capacity.” 

(Photograph of Chief Downing available upon request.)