Letters to the Editor

Hayes 'Derides Another Candidate,' Loses a Vote

Letter to the editor

I am bothered by Louise Hayes' flyer for her State's Attorney campaign in which she derides another candidate, Mike Nerheim, for defending “criminals,” as she puts it.  I am appalled that she would go to the length of publicly mentioning pending cases, which could sway public perception and influence a jury's verdict - a clear violation of the code of conduct she should be holding herself up to. I also resent her use of the word "criminal" when the accused has not yet been convicted.  We might as well go back to lynching people because we don’t like the color of their skin or their creed. But, then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if the State’s Attorney’s Office hasn’t already deteriorated to that level after hearing about the Juan Rivera …

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Opinion: Support Louise Hayes for County State's Attorney

Letter to Editor.

As a criminal defense attorney, I have the pleasure of working closely with Louise Hayes and I am continuously impressed by her knowledge and professionalism in the court room. Ms. Hayes is a hard working member of the mental health court team and in that role it is evident that Louise clearly understands and respects the rights of defendants. Louise Hayes is the epitome of integrity and appreciates each person’s role in the criminal justice system. Also, meeting Louise’s four wonderful children was a delight. Each clearly benefitted from having a mother who was involved in every aspect of their development while maintaining an integral role in the Lake County State’s Attorney Office.\ As a new mother myself I find her ability to balance …

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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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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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Contested Primaries Emerging for Local Races

Candidates for General Assembly, Lake County State’s Attorney and other offices will battle for party nominations.

At least seven primary races are taking shape as candidates began filing petitions Monday for the March 20 Illinois primary election to earn spots on the ballot to qualify for the Nov. 6 general election. Candidates for all offices except the United States House of Representatives began turning in their paperwork. The deadline is 5 p.m. Monday. The filing period for Congress begins Dec. 23 and ends Dec. 27. While a number of nominations are uncontested, contests are emerging for the Illinois General Assembly, Lake County State’s Attorney, Lake County Recorder, Lake County Coroner and the Lake County Board. With the retirement of state Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston), state Rep. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) filed his petitions Monday in …

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Hayes Tops State’s Attorney Money Race, Kennedy Leads Democrats

With Drury out of the picture, Hayes has more cash on hand than everyone else combined.

Scott Drury’s departure from the race to succeed retiring Lake County State’s Attorney Mike Waller to run for the Illinois General Assembly leaves Lake Bluff resident Louise Hayes with more money in the bank than the rest of the field combined.  Drury dropped out of the campaign for the Democratic nomination on Oct. 25 in an effort to replace state Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park), who is retiring at the end of her term.  That leaves Libertyville resident and Lake Forest attorney Chris Kennedy competing with Assistant Lake County State’s Attorney Reginald Mathews of Waukegan and Mundelein attorney Karen Williams for the Democratic nomination.  Hayes, an assistant Lake County State’s Attorney, is one of three candidates seeking the …

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