Kennedy Issues 'Blueprint for Justice'

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 office has been the subject of intense criticism involving a number of cases in which DNA evidence appears to exonerate defendants. The highest profile cases involve Juan Rivera, who was released after an appellate court reversed his conviction for the murder of Holly Staker; and Jerry Hobbs, who was released after five years awaiting trial for the murders of Laura Hobbs and Krystal Tobias.

“The murders of Krystal Tobias and Laura Hobbs, we have DNA evidence that shows who did it, and he is in prison in Virginia,” Kennedy said. “He should be charged, he should be held accountable.”

Kennedy said the Tobias and Hobbs case would be one of the priorities he would take on if elected Lake County State’s Attorney.

He says the key issues to be addressed in this term are to prevent wrongful convictions, enhance victims’ rights and to promote transparency and remain accountable.

In a news release, Kennedy lists five strategies as his “Blueprint for Justice.”

1. Create a Conviction Integrity Unit to address persistent concerns over alleged wrongful convictions. Kennedy’s  Conviction Integrity Unit will be an independent unit of the Office, not merely an advisory board, and will also oversee training and supervision in future cases to ensure against wrongful convictions.
2. Pursue court orders necessary to submit the DNA profile in the murder of Holly Staker to the FBI’s DNA Index System (NDIS). In the time since a DNA sample was last submitted to the database, more than 3.9 million new genetic fingerprints have been added and should be compared to the profile of DNA found in this 20-year-old case.
3. Issue criminal charges against Jorge Torrez in the murders of Laura Hobbs and Krystal Tobias. Torrez’s DNA has been linked to the case, yet Lake County has yet to prosecute the man who murdered these two young children in 2005.
4. Foster transparency and public confidence in the State's Attorney Office.
5. Enhance the focus on victims and their rights, especially in sex crimes and crimes against children, by establishing a Sex Crimes Unit.