By Townhall Chicago News Staff
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen Burke on Thursday swore in 77 new prosecutors in the largest-ever incoming class of attorneys recruited to the office.
The ceremony at Chicago-Kent College of Law marks a significant expansion of the nation’s second-largest prosecutor’s office, which has worked to rebuild staffing after years of declining headcount. The new assistant state’s attorneys will handle cases across 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,” Burke said in a news 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.”
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, according to the office.
The class is 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, the office said. The new prosecutors represent 30 law schools and achieved an 80 percent bar passage rate, which the office said exceeds both state and national averages.
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Joy V. Cunningham delivered the keynote address at the ceremony. Craig Engebretson, first assistant state’s attorney, and Yvette Loizon, chief assistant state’s attorney for policy and external affairs, also spoke.
The hiring push reflects a central priority of Burke’s administration since she took office. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office has struggled in recent years with attorney attrition that strained courtroom staffing and slowed case processing.
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. Her FY2027 budget proposal, announced Nov. 2, outlined $5 million in projected annual savings alongside plans to expand forensic evidence processing capacity and strengthen victim services.
The office handles criminal prosecutions across Cook County, which encompasses Chicago and more than 130 suburban municipalities. Adequate staffing levels affect how quickly cases move through the court system and the quality of service provided to crime victims and witnesses.
Burke’s investment in recruitment, training and retention represents a strategic shift for the office. The expansion arrives at a time when the office has also been active on several high-profile legal fronts, including defending Cook County’s assault weapons ban before the U.S. Supreme Court and the county’s sanctuary ordinance at the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
The 77 new prosecutors will be assigned to courtrooms and units across the county as they begin their careers in public service.
