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PRESS RELEASE
For more information, please contact: Gwen Osborne, director of public affairs, (312) 906-5251
Chicago-Kent co-sponsors Cook County State's Attorney forums
Candidates Anita Alvarez (D) and Tony Peraica (R) will discuss a variety of issues
CHICAGO–September 30, 2008–-Chicago-Kent College of Law and its Student Bar Association have joined with the Chicago Council of Lawyers (CCL) and Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice to present two question-and-answer forums with the candidates for Cook County State’s Attorney. Republican candidate Tony Peraica will appear at noon on October 16. Democratic candidate Anita Alvarez will appear at noon on October 21. Both programs, which are free and open to the public, will be held in the law school’s Governor Richard B. Ogilvie Auditorium, 565 West Adams Street (between Clinton and Jefferson streets), in Chicago.
The discussions will be moderated by Chicago-Kent professor, criminal defense attorney, and CCL president Daniel T. Coyne.
The Cook County State's Attorney's Office, the second-largest prosecutor's office in the United States, prosecutes all criminal cases involving misdemeanor and felony crimes committed in Cook County. The office also files legal actions to enforce child support orders, protect consumers and the elderly from exploitation, and assist thousands of victims of domestic violence every year. Both candidates will have an opportunity to present their positions and answer questions.
In addition to taking questions from a panel of experts and the audience, the candidates will address their positions on issues related to the Cook County Criminal Courts. "A Report on Chicago’s Felony Courts," a research report on the Cook County Criminal Courts by the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice and Chicago Council of Lawyers, was released earlier this year. With the cooperation of Cook County Criminal Division presiding judge Paul J. Biebel Jr., State’s Attorney Richard A. Devine, and Public Defender Edwin A. Burnette, researchers conducted a two-year study of system-wide issues affecting the criminal courts. After interviewing more than 150 judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys, conducting surveys, spending hundreds of hours in the courts, and analyzing the literature, a report on problems and possible solutions was released. (Copies of the report are available at www.chicagocouncil.org.)
Attorneys who attend are eligible for one hour of Illinois Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit for each program attended. Reservations are requested. Please RSVP to ccl@chicagocouncil.org or call to indicate which forum(s) you will be attending.
A reception will be held immediately following each discussion. Brown bag lunches are welcome.
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