ILLINOIS STATE’S ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION HOSTS SUMMER TRAINING CONFERENCE

Three-day conference to concentrate on honest government

WHEATON – DuPage County State’s Attorney and President of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association Joseph E. Birkett announced today that the Association will be hosting a three-day long training seminar beginning tomorrow, July 23 through Friday, July 25.  The conference, entitled “Honest Government, Prosecutors and Operating Public Business”, will be held at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort. 

The conference will feature speakers and discussions on the topics of public corruption, white collar crime, representing public bodies, conducting public business and ethics.

“As prosecutors we must always remember that we have a special responsibility to maintain the public trust,” commented Birkett.  “It is our responsibility to ensure that we act with the best interests of the public in mind.  Now, more than ever, with allegations of public corruption almost daily in the news, it is imperative that we conduct ourselves in an open and honest manner taking steps to ensure that those who abuse the public trust are held accountable.”

Specially invited guest Patrick Collins, former Assistant U.S. Attorney and lead prosecutor in U.S. v. Ryan, will discuss the role of the prosecutor in public corruption.

            Also scheduled to speak at the conference are: Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan; Mike Luke from the Illinois Attorney General’s Office; DuPage County State’s Attorney Joseph Birkett;    Lake   County   State’s   Attorney   Mike   Waller;   Nancy   Wolfe,   First Assistant   DuPage  County State’s Attorney’s Office; Anna Harkins, Deputy Chief DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office; Tim Diamond, Deputy Chief of DuPage County Misdemeanor Trial Division, Helen Kapas Erdman, Supervisor DuPage County Public Integrity/Financial Crimes Unit, Matt Jones, Legislative Liaison at the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s Office, Jerry Nora, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and Mike Bersani, Partner at Hervas, Condon & Bersani.

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