State's Attorney Berlin Kicks Off Candidacy for 2012 Election

Flanked by law enforcement and county leaders, DuPage County State's Attorney Bob Berlin announced his candidacy in 2012 for a full four-year term as the county's chief law enforcement officer.

Berlin's widespread support is testament to his strong showing as State's Attorney since his appointment last December.  The 24-year career prosecutor said he'd like to continue the strong foundation laid by his predecessors Jim Ryan (former Attorney General of Illinois) and Joe Birkett (2nd District Appellate Court Justice).

“We’ve had a long and proud tradition of experienced, ethical prosecutors as State’s Attorney,” Berlin said. “I want to continue bringing that type of law enforcement leadership to the people of DuPage County.”

Berlin said he would emphasize public safety, proactive leadership and protecting senior citizens and children during the next four years.

Already, a long list of leaders are backing Berlin's candidacy. They include:

• State Senators Kirk Dillard, Tom Johnson,  John Millner,  Carol Pankau,  Ron Sandack and Minority Leader Christine Radogno and state Representative Michael Connelly.

• Countywide elected officials: County Board Chairman Dan Cronin, Sheriff John Zaruba, Recorder Fred Bucholz, Auditor Bob Grogan, Treasurer Gwen Henry, Clerk Gary King, Superintendent of Education, Darlene Ruscitti and Coroner Peter Siekmann.

• County board members: John Curran, Grant Eckhoff, James Healy, Brian Krajewski, Robert Larsen, J.R. McBride, Michael McMahon, Debra Olson, Don Puchalski, Jim Zay and John Zediker.

• Township GOP Chairmen:  Cliff Brown (Winfield), Paul Hinds (York),  Brian Krajewski (Downers Grove), Mike Loftus (Lisle), Rachel Ossyra (Naperville), Lori Carlson (Milton) and Darlene Ruscitti (Bloomingdale).

Prior to being named State's Attorney, Berlin served as Chief of the Criminal Bureau since April 2010, where he managed and supervised 70 attorneys in the felony, misdemeanor, juvenile, and special prosecutions divisions, while assigned a number of significant felony cases.

He was a member of  State’s Attorney Birkett’s Management Team and the Capital Litigation Committee.  Prior to the Criminal Bureau, he had served as Deputy Chief of Felony Trial Division, where he managed and supervised 18 attorneys and 6 felony courtrooms, while assigned a number of significant felony cases.  While in DuPage County, he has tried 4 first degree murder jury trials, including 3 death penalty cases, and one first degree murder bench trial.

He first joined the DuPage County State’s Attorney's office in 2004, when he became Deputy Chief of the Juvenile Division.

From 2001 to 2004, Berlin served as First Assistant State’s Attorney in the office of the Kane County State’s Attorney.  Prior to that, he served as Assistant State’s Attorney in the office of the Cook County State’s Attorney, where he tried 68 felony jury trials, including 40 first degree murder cases, and hundreds of felony bench trials, including more than 50 homicide cases. In total, Berlin has tried more than 80 felony jury trials, of which more than 50 were first degree murder cases.

Berlin received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law (St. Louis) in May 1987 after graduating from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA.  He is married with two daughters, ages 13 and 10.