Press Release

Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez to Present Commencement Address to NIU College of Law Class of 2010

May 7, 2010

DeKalb, Ill.-- The Northern Illinois University College of Law is pleased to announce that this year’s commencement speaker will be Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez.  With nearly 900 attorneys and 1,600 employees, Alvarez heads the second largest prosecutorial office in the United States.  Ms. Alvarez made history on November 4, 2008 when she was elected as the first female and first Hispanic Cook County State's Attorney.

A Chicago native, Alvarez began her career in the State’s Attorney’s Office in 1986 and steadily worked her way up through the ranks, handling hundreds of felony cases.  At the time of her historic election, Alvarez held the rank of Chief Deputy State’s Attorney, the third ranking post in the Office.  She has also held the positions of Chief of Staff to the Cook County State's Attorney, Chief of the Special Prosecutions Bureau, Deputy Chief of the Narcotics Bureau, and Supervisor of the Public Integrity Unit.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office is responsible for prosecuting all individuals charged with violating Illinois' criminal laws within the county.  Alvarez promised that her administration would “seek justice tempered with fairness and compassion.”

Throughout her legal career, Alvarez has been active in various bar associations and organizations. In June 2009, she became President of the Chicago Bar Association, one of the largest metropolitan bar organizations in the nation.  She also was a founding member of the National Hispanic Prosecutors Association and served as its National President.  Among her many careers honors include being named Person of the Year by the Latin American Police Association and also named States Attorney of the Year by the Illinois State Crime Commission in 2005.

The NIU College of Law Commencement Ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 29, 2010 at the Northern Illinois University Convocation Center.

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For more information, contact:
Melody Mitchell
Alumni Events & Public Relations
(815) 753-9655 or mmitchell@niu.edu