By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen Burke on Wednesday swore in 77 new prosecutors in the largest-ever incoming class of recent law school graduates recruited to the office.
The new assistant state’s attorneys took their oaths during a ceremony at Chicago-Kent College of Law, a step aimed at rebuilding the nation’s second-largest prosecutor’s office after years of declining headcount, according to a news release from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Of the 77 new hires, 68 were recruited directly from law school and completed a training curriculum designed for first-year attorneys entering public service. The class represents 30 law schools from across the country and achieved an 80 percent bar passage rate, above both state and national averages, according to the release.
“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,” Burke said in the release. “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.”
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joy V. Cunningham delivered the keynote address. Craig Engebretson, first assistant state’s attorney, and Yvette Loizon, chief assistant state’s attorney for policy and external affairs, also spoke at the ceremony, according to the release.
The incoming class is also among the most diverse in the office’s history. Women make up 70 percent of the group, nearly half identify as non-white, 16 percent identify as LGBTQ+, and 40 percent come from outside Illinois, according to the release.
The expansion is part of Burke’s broader strategy to strengthen the office’s workforce. At a recent budget hearing, Burke emphasized the importance of hiring entry-level attorneys to maintain adequate courtroom staffing and ensure timely administration of justice, according to the release.
Burke unveiled her fiscal year 2027 budget proposal on Nov. 2, outlining a plan that includes $5 million in projected annual savings while expanding capacity to process forensic evidence and strengthening services for crime victims, according to a separate release from the office.
The office handles criminal prosecutions across Cook County, which encompasses more than 5 million residents.
