Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke Leads National Prosecutorial Training on Reproductive Rights
CHICAGO — Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke today discussed the mission of the newly formed Choice Protection Unit (CPU), a multi-disciplinary team at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) that is devoted to safeguarding reproductive rights, during a national webinar hosted by the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. The webinar provided an opportunity for other prosecutor’s offices to learn about the unique role of the CPU and to engage with its leaders. Established as the first standalone unit of its kind in any prosecutor's office nationwide, the CPU is responsible for handling cases that involve threats to abortion access in Cook County.
The webinar was attended by more than a dozen representatives from prosecutors' offices across the country. State’s Attorney Burke outlined her vision for the CPU, discussing how the unit’s highly trained team will activate to respond to both criminal and civil acts that seek to impede abortion access in Cook County, target medical providers, and/or threaten or harm patients seeking care. With more women traveling to Illinois to seek services following the demise of Roe v. Wade, Burke has maintained that the CPU is an urgent and innovative response to protect reproductive health care in Cook County.
“We will not stand idly by when women who need reproductive health care are targeted for choosing to exercise what is a protected right in Cook County,” State’s Attorney Burke said. “We must be ready to respond with the full range of legal tools at our disposal to ensure that Cook County remains a safe haven for women in need.”
“As prosecutors, we have a responsibility to uphold the rule of law and protect fundamental rights. Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke is leading by example when she created the Choice Protection Unit which represents an innovative and necessary approach to ensuring that individuals seeking reproductive health care are not subjected to intimidation or harm,” said David LaBahn, president of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. “APA is proud to support these efforts that safeguard access to care and reinforce the principle that justice always includes protecting personal freedoms.”
The Association of Prosecuting Attorneys is a national leader in training and technical assistance for prosecutors that provides guidance, solutions, and strategies to justice-aligned professionals. APA members include prosecutors’ offices, elected, appointed, and line prosecutors, justice system professionals, and community partners
Burke launched the CPU in April under the leadership of Assistant State’s Attorney Toni Giancola, the supervisor of the Choice Protection Unit and a veteran trial attorney at the Bridgeview Courthouse. The CPU consists of about 30 prosecutors, victim/witness specialists, investigators, and other staff from every division of the CCSAO who have volunteered to take on the extra assignment. Assistant State’s Attorney Victor Yanz, a supervisor for the CCSAO’s Public Corruption Unit who works with the CPU through the office’s Legislative Advisory Committee, also spoke during the webinar.
During the last legislative session, CCSAO advocated for a bill that would have classified certain crimes against reproductive health care facilities as acts of domestic terrorism. Though that measure ultimately stalled, the CCSAO intends to renew its push for those protections during the upcoming Illinois General Assembly.
For more information, please contact the CCSAO communications office at (312) 603-3423, or email: sao.media@cookcountysao.org.
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