Attorney General Candidate

Questions & Answers

What is the importance of the Illinois Attorney General to your constituents in Champaign County?

Our state, and in fact, our nation, are in unprecedented peril. We are confronted by almost daily attacks on our civil rights, health, and well-being. To prevail, our state needs leadership that has the legal prowess, courage and tenacity to prevail against the political and corporate powers that seek to divide and exploit us. As Attorney General, the people’s lawyer, I want to fully leverage the rule of law and the power of the office to defend our citizens against the harmful and regressive policies of the Trump and Rauner administrations and to ensure that our political leaders are held to the accountability and transparency standards our citizens deserve.

These are issues that effect all Illinois residents, including those living in Champaign County.

Why are you qualified to be Illinois Attorney General?

My experience serving as a federal prosecutor is directly relevant to the attorney general’s litigation and enforcement responsibilities. I provided guidance and legal advice to law enforcement partners through complex long-term investigations, reviewed evidence, recommended criminal charges, and litigated cases. This litigation involved presenting cases before the grand jury, significant motion practice in the district court, and jury trials. I also drafted and argued appeals before the 7th Circuit and responded to habeas corpus petitions.

As First Deputy Inspector General and General Counsel for the Office of the Inspector General, I provided guidance on investigative methods and issues; advised the IG on legal issues; reviewed OIG’s written work product; provided input on audits and reviews of City agencies; and led OIG’s Hiring Oversight section which was responsible for monitoring the city’s hiring practices.

As the Chief Administrator of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability and its predecessor agency, the Independent Police Review Authority, I oversaw the agency with jurisdiction over investigations of allegations of police misconduct, weapons discharge incidents, and incidents resulting in the death or serious injury of a civilian while in police custody. The relevant legal framework was multifaceted, involving federal and state, criminal and civil, substantive and procedural law, as well as municipal code, collective bargaining agreements, and police department rules and regulations. I decided the outcomes of the agency’s investigations and disciplinary recommendations. I was responsible for managing the work of the agency’s legal staff and outside counsel related to criminal, civil and administrative matters. I also collaborated with the agency’s law enforcement partners (e.g. Illinois State Police, the FBI, Cook County State’s Attorney’s office). This experience is directly relevant to the work of the attorney general, who must similarly collaborate and coordinate investigative work with law enforcement partners.

At COPA/IPRA, I worked toward police reform through policy recommendations. Under my leadership, the agency had a direct impact on the evolution of CPD’s use of force policies, including significant improvements to the protocols governing the officer-involved shooting and death incident investigations.

Most importantly, I created the vision for COPA. I developed the new agency’s budget, identified the size and capabilities of the staff necessary to fulfill its mission, implemented a hiring plan to attract the most qualified individuals, and developed policies and procedures to achieve quality, timely and independent investigations.

This experience will be tremendously valuable as I look to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the current structure and capabilities of the attorney general’s office while developing a clear and compelling vision for how it should best serve the Illinois residents.

What is a key policy difference between you and your Primary Opponent[s]?

My educational credentials, professional background, and life experience make me uniquely qualified to serve as the Illinois Attorney General at this critical, challenging time for our state.
Analytical Skills I learned early in life that I love to tackle tough problems. I graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Mechanical and Aerospace engineering, which gave me the courage to take on tough challenges and the skills to excel at solving them. These analytical skills have served me well in business, law, and life.

Legal skills and expertise Prosecutorial experience is essential to the role of attorney general because the office is responsible for conducting investigations, partnering with law enforcement, and prosecuting cases. But an effective attorney general must also be a well-rounded lawyer with experience in other areas. Unlike several candidates, I have extensive complex litigation experience from motion practice through lengthy trials. Moreover, my legal experience spans criminal, civil, and administrative litigation. I also am the only candidate with in-depth experience in police accountability and police reform, which will prove essential for the person who takes on the civil rights litigation initiated by Attorney General Lisa Madigan in pursuit of reform of the Chicago Police Department. My experience teaching law helps me to communicate complex legal concepts to legal novices in a way that is effective and engaging.

Organizational Leadership I am the only candidate who has experience leading an organization responsible for complex legal matters. My business management experience will provide valuable insights when working to resolve complex legal disputes related to business operations. I have led organizations through difficult, challenging transitions by clearly articulating vision, marshaling the necessary resources, and motivating the organizations to move in lockstep toward a common goal. 


Values and Independence I am a black woman, born at the height of the civil rights era, who came of age during the Women’s Liberation movement, and built a business career in the era of Reaganism. Through hard work and diligence, I was able to overcome the obstacles placed before me time and again to succeed in positions of increased responsibility. I have experienced “me-too” moments my entire life.

As a prosecutor, I crossed paths with many young African-American men whose lives could have been so different if granted access to the educational and economic opportunities most of the candidates in this race were given. As chief administrator of IPRA, I went to the scenes of officer-involved shootings and witnessed first-hand the destruction and despair leading up to these tragic incidents and left in their wake. I sat through numerous community meetings where residents expressed their outrage and pain over the status quo in our state.

For me, this election is not a stepping stone towards higher office or big-money lobbying gigs. These experiences compel me to work for change, to support progressive, democratic values, and to remain steadfast in my personal commitment to justice and integrity.

Is there anything else you would like to say to an undecided voter in Champaign County?

The attorney general is a lawyer who must truly represent the people of Illinois. She must advocate for those whose voices have been silenced or drowned out by the profound imbalance of power and resources in our state, which only widens as our political leaders become ever more entrenched and susceptible to the influence of the wealthy and special interest groups.

I was born into the age of Jim Crow. I have seen “For Whites Only” signs over water fountains. I was a young girl during the race riots of the 1960s. During the 1970s, when the Women’s Movement was in full swing, I was a young woman finding my voice in this world. I started my professional life in the 1980s, when women were still rare in many professional arenas. As a woman of color who has spent the last 30+ years in male-dominated work environments, I have experienced sexual harassment, I have been underpaid, and I have been asked to wait my turn for the next promotion opportunity. I have been ignored, patronized, and marginalized. Yet, through hard work and perseverance, I have fought to defend myself and the people I represented as a lawyer. I have learned the power of my voice. And I will always use it in support of justice.

The people of our state need an attorney general who has the courage and fortitude to stand strong and fight for those who don’t have the power or resources to defend themselves.

Northside Democracy For America, a group from Chicago, hosted an Illinois Attorney General Forum

Watch the full video: here.