Welcome to the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor
We are part of team that proudly serves the State’s Attorneys of Illinois, and thus, the public. Our role is essential to the Illinois criminal justice system, and as such, it is the goal of the Agency to provide quality legal services to the State’s Attorneys of Illinois.
The Illinois Legislature created the Office of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor in 1977. The Agency was given the mission to work closely with State’s Attorneys in 101 counties to prepare, file, and argue cases in the appellate courts to keep convicted criminals behind bars. The Agency’s responsibility has since been expanded to include serving as Special Prosecutor, providing assistance to State’s Attorneys in labor cases under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, in drug cases, and in tax objection cases. The Agency also provides continuing legal education services which includes specialized sessions in trial advocacy and in cases involving children who are crime victims and witnesses.
The Office is guided by a ten-member Board of Governors, which consists of experienced State’s Attorneys who bring real world training to the policy making decisions which must be made. Two State’s Attorneys are elected from each of the downstate Appellate Districts, the Cook County State’s Attorney serves by statute, and one at-large member is appointed by the other nine members.
The Director is appointed by the Board of Governors and is responsible for overall administration of the Office. The Director’s Office administers all legal, managerial, legislation, educational, and budgetary matters.
The Office has established four full-service appellate facilities in the state. These are located in Elgin (Second District), Ottawa (Third District), Springfield (Fourth District), and Mount Vernon (Fifth District). Each facility is managed by a Deputy Director who supervises a legal and clerical staff.