State's Attorney Now on Social Media

To be more transparent and give citizens easy access to news and announcements, Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim has launched Facebook and Twitter pages.

The Lake County States Attorney’s Office has officially launched its Facebook and Twitter pages. “In this era of the information age, these social media platforms are where so many government entities, businesses and individuals are increasingly getting their news, conducting their business, sharing their opinions, and living their lives. With these new channels, the Lake County Citizens will be able to obtain the information they need and are entitled to” said Lake County State’s Attorney Mike Nerheim. The Twitter and Facebook pages will contain information about ongoing community events, events that the office has been involved in throughout the community, links to press releases, updates on happenings with in the state’s attorney’s …

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Mike Nerheim 'Clear Choice' for Lake County State's Attorney

Letter to the Editor

After meeting and researching Mike Nerheim, I want to say what I know to be true about Mike Nerheim. Mike won the primary by the overwhelming vote of the people by more than double, regardless of political party, all across Lake County. He believes the office of State’s Attorney should be, as he is, committed to justice, fairness and fighting public corruption. Although technically running as a Republican, Mike Nerheim is politically independent, and has REFUSED ANY CONTRIBUTION FROM ANY POLITICAL PARTY! He has always believed that "Politics have no place in the Lake County State's Attorney's Office" and "The State's Attorney's office should reflect impartiality toward all people, across all party lines." Mike WILL restore public trust to …

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State’s Attorney Candidates Discuss Charging Minors as Adults

How can the role of the prosecutor affect cases like Rousso, Lynn, Mahoney and Norris? Without mentioning specific cases, Mike Nerheim and Chris Kennedy explain what they could do.

Felony charges against Deerfield and Highland Park teenagers since early August has sparked intense discussion in those communities about what kind of consideration should be given to young people without past criminal history. A prosecutor’s discretion has some effect on how these cases could progress through the courts and ultimately what kind of punishment the accused offenders could receive. The only certainty is Lake County will have a new state’s attorney after the Nov. election. Earlier: Prosecutor Explains Why Norris, Mahoney Charged as Adults Long time Lake County State’s Attorney Mike Waller is not running for reelection. Lake County voters will choose either Democrat Chris Kennedy or Republican Mike Nerheim to replace Waller. …

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A Blueprint for Justice

Chris Kennedy's first in a series of Patch posts discussing his candidacy for Lake County State’s Attorney.

Nerheim: Not Party Choice But Will Work Even Harder to Win Office

Nerheim won the Republican nomination for Lake County state's attorney. He received 43 percent or 22,012 of the 50,600 votes.

Gurnee resident Mike Nerheim won the Republican nomination for Lake County state’s attorney Tuesday, with 43 percent of the vote in the three-person primary. “This has been a tough, tough fight,” Nerheim said at his election party in Gurnee. “When I first decided to run, I knew I was not going to be party choice, I knew I wouldn’t be getting support from a lot of people in the party.” Nerheim beat Louise Hayes of Lake Bluff and Bryan Winter of Lake Barrington for the Republican nomination. The other two candidates received about 28 percent of votes each. “I had people tell me you can run if you want but you don’t have a chance and I want to thank all of those people; that didn’t dissuade me, that encouraged me,” Nerheim said during his …

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Kennedy Issues ‘Blueprint for Justice'

Kennedy received 57 percent or 1,4945 votes of the 25,960 votes cast by Lake County voters.

Libertyville resident Chris Kennedy won the Democratic nomination for Lake County State’s Attorney race Tuesday with 57 percent of the vote in the three-person primary. “Tonight, we begin the next step in reclaiming a criminal justice system that is worthy of its citizens and of its many law enforcement professionals who are dedicated to doing what’s right,” said Kennedy, 43, a former Lake County assistant state’s attorney and a partner in the Lake Forest law firm Kennedy, Pierson & Strachan LLP. “The insider culture in Lake County has left us vulnerable for far too long. It’s time to elect a proven leader who fully understands what’s at stake and who has the courage and independence to make real changes.” Lake County’s State’s Attorney’s …

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Rivera Case Puts DNA Evidence, How it's Handled As Key Issue

Lake County State's Attorney candidates answer questions at forum.

  The wrongful prosection case of Juan Rivera gained national attention following his release after 20 years in state prison. The case shined a light on Lake County prosecutors and police who resisted his release even after DNA evidence indicated the 11-year-old Waukegan girl was raped by another man. DNA evidence and its use has become a critical issue in the race for Lake County State's Attorney among six candidates, including two current assistant state's attorneys. One of those is Louise Hayes, a Lake Bluff resident who became an assistant state's attorney in 1990. She touts her experience in the office as the best and most compared to her opponents. Reginald Mathews has not been an assistant state's attorney for as long as Hayes, but …

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Brin Touts On-the-Job Experience; Dietz Knows Government's Proper Role

Republican candidates for Clerk of the Circuit Court of Lake County answer questions at League of Women Voters forum.

  With the retirement of Sally Coffelt, current Clerk of the Circuit Court for Lake County, Gerald Dietz and Keith Brin are vying for the Republican slot in the March 20 primary to run against Democratic candidate Cynthia Pruim Haran, who is running unopposed. Dietz and Brin participated in Sunday's candidate forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Lake County (LWV) at the University Center in Grayslake. Dietz, of Round Lake, has never held an elected office, but touts his legal background as an attorney who specialized in representing government entities. He has served as chairman of the Lake County Community Development Commission from 1996-2011. Brin, of Highland Park, has also never held an elected office, but for the past …

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Lake County State's Attorney Candidates Say Cameras Bring Transparency to Courtroom

Reservations remain on what impact it will have on witnesses, victims.

Lake County State’s Attorney candidate Chris Kennedy remembers the intrusion, the lack of privacy. Twelve years ago, Kennedy’s cousin was abducted and murdered in Tennessee. “She was missing for a while, and in the media while they tried to find her,” said Kennedy, one of three Democratic candidates who resides in Libertyville and practices law in Lake Forest. “It was very difficult for the family to deal with. They were not afforded the privacy to grieve.” That experience leaves Kennedy with mixed feelings over the recent Illinois Supreme Court ruling that will allow cameras into the state’s circuit courts for the first time. The pilot program allows the media to use both still and video cameras to record civil and criminal proceedings, …

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