Tuesday, October 03, 2023

Risa Lanier to make 19th Subcircuit judicial bid

A number of commenters have advised that First Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Risa Lanier is running for judge in the new 19th Judicial Subcircuit. That's a link to the candidate's website in the preceding page; a link has been added to the Sidebar on this site as well.

Lanier has served as the top deputy to State's Attorney Kim Foxx since September 2021. She was the prosecutor who obtained the conviction against Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer's killer; she was also the initial prosecutor in the Jussie Smollett case. (According to this December 2021 WTTW report, Special Prosecutor Dan Webb reportedly found conflicting evidence regarding the role played by Lanier and her then-superiors regarding the provenance of the initial deal offered to Smollett.)

Licensed as an attorney in Illinois since 1999, according to ARDC, Lanier's campaign résumé details her career service in the CCSAO.

Lanier's campaign bio notes that she is a native South Sider and a graduate of Percy L. Julian High School. In her role as first assistant, Lanier "oversees the operations of the office of approximately 1200 employees and works alongside members of the executive staff to create policies and procedures in the State’s Attorney’s Office that promote public safety, equity, and integrity in the criminal justice system," according to her campaign bio.

Lanier sought slating for a countywide judicial post at this summer's slatemaking meeting. She was named the ninth alternate at that time.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Foxx? Smollett? Sure, that will play well in 19. Who is her campaign advisor? Moe, Larry and Curly?

Anonymous said...

Play nice, Anon. She might pull this off…

Anonymous said...

Someone who ran in old 3 in 2020 and 2014 will be returning to seal the deal.

Anonymous said...

She didn’t prosecute Jussie Smollett. Dan Webb did.

Anonymous said...

Initial prosecutor? You meant to say she wanted to let Jussie go and then Dan Webb had to get the job done. Pass.

Anonymous said...

Her opponent knocked on my door earlier today, asking for my signature on her petition. 2 hours later, her OTHER opponent did the same thing as I was walking my dog in Beverly Park. Then her OTHER opponent got me while I was grabbing a cup of coffee at the Dunkin Donuts on Western Avenue. Then her OTHER opponent . . . wow. First nobody was running and now EVERYBODY is running.

Jack Leyhane said...

Anon 10/7 @1:49 p.m. -- Thanks for sharing. Too bad you couldn't provide even one name. Sheesh.

Anonymous said...

Time will tell, Leyhane.

Anonymous said...

Has she (or her "consultant") looked at the NEW map for this NEW subcircuit? Here is a hint: it isn't the 3rd Subcircuit and it does NOT include the 18th Ward. (Not as if Derrick Curtis can deliver votes for anybody).

Lots of Jussie Smollett supporters in Palos, Merrionnette Park, Oak Lawn, Mt. Greenwood and Evergreen Park. Perhaps you should rethink this one.