Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen Burke Swears in Largest-Ever Class of New Prosecutors

77 recent law school graduates join the CCSAO, help rebuild the nation’s second-largest prosecutor’s office

CHICAGO – Today, Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen Burke welcomed 77 new prosecutors to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO), the largest-ever class of recent law school graduates recruited to the Office.

The new Assistant State’s Attorneys (ASAs) were sworn in to their roles during a ceremony held at Chicago-Kent College of Law. Of the 77 new hires, 68 attorneys joined the CCSAO as bar takers, recruited directly from law school, and completed a rigorous training curriculum designed for first-year attorneys entering public service.

Adding this historic number of ASAs helps advance a key priority of SA Burke’s administration: rebuilding the CCSAO after years of declining headcount. SA Burke’s focus on recruitment, hiring and retention strengthens the Office’s ability to effectively serve victims and meet the demands of Cook County’s criminal justice system.

“For the second year in a row, we’ve recruited and hired some of the most talented and driven young attorneys who want to make a difference in their communities,” said State’s Attorney Burke. “Bringing on more prosecutors ensures that we can better serve our victims, sustain a manageable workload for our attorneys, and move cases more quickly through the courts.”  

Today’s swearing-in ceremony also included a keynote address from Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joy V. Cunningham, as well as remarks from Craig Engebretson, First Assistant State’s Attorney, and Yvette Loizon, Chief Assistant State’s Attorney for Policy and External Affairs.

This year’s class of newly sworn-in ASAs is also among the most diverse. Women make up 70% of the class, nearly half identify as non-white, 16% identify as LGBTQ+, and 40% come from outside Illinois. Collectively, the new prosecutors represent 30 law schools from across the country and achieved an 80% bar passage rate, well above both state and national averages.

Throughout her administration, SA Burke has invested heavily in hiring initiatives, improved training, employee retention, and leadership development. At a recent budget hearing, SA Burke emphasized the Office’s significant progress towards strengthening its workforce, underscoring the importance of hiring entry-level attorneys to maintain adequate courtroom staffing and ensuring the timely and effective administration of justice.

Photos from the ceremony can be downloaded and used for publication HERE. 

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