The Office of the Cook County Public Defender is a large and complex office with a budget of more than $80,000,000. The office employs four hundred and ninety-five attorneys, sixty-one investigators, and one hundred and thirty-five social workers, clerical staff, and other support staff. The office represents both juveniles and adults at different courthouses located throughout the county. Specialized units include the Homicide Task Force and the Multiple Defendants Division. The office has continued to undertake new challenges including representation at police stations and in immigration proceedings.
The President is seeking a highly qualified individual whose practice of law has clearly demonstrated experience in the representation of persons accused of crime, and who can effectively lead a large staff, which includes members of several collective bargaining units. The Public Defender is also called on to participate fully in the on-going reform of the Cook County criminal justice system as a principal stakeholder, operating on par with separately elected officials.
Interested individuals who met the qualifications may send in their candidate materials by the required deadline of January 22, 2021. In addition, the President will ask local law schools, bar associations and a number of civic and legal organizations to submit individuals for consideration. A selection committee of community leaders with a range of experience and qualifications has been appointed to interview qualified candidates. Through an appropriate public process, qualifying questions will be provided to the selection committee that reflect community concerns. The selection committee will be required to submit up to three candidates to the President for her consideration.
Please provide candidate materials, including the name, resume and cover letter. All candidate materials should be sent via email to [email protected] or by mail to the Justice Advisory Council, 69 West Washington, Suite 1100, Chicago, IL 60602 Attention: Public Defender Search.
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