Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Mary Colleen Roberts announced Nov. 28 at the Oak Park Illinois Library her candidacy for Judge in the 11th Judicial Subcircuit of the Circuit Court of Cook County.
Roberts has spent her legal career serving the public not only as an Assistant State's Attorney but also as a Hearing Officer in the Child Protection Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County and as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago's Department of Law.
Roberts' career began at Maryville Academy, which provides residential care to children who are wards of the court. Her experiences with those children as they interfaced with the legal system led her to go to law school and continue her career in the public sector as an attorney.
After graduating from law school 16 years ago, she began working in the State's Attorney's office and had worked her way up to the felony trial courtrooms when she was appointed by then Chief Judge Donald O'Connell to serve as a hearing officer in the Child Protection Division of the Cook County Circuit Court. After that, she worked as an Assistant Corporation Counsel and then a supervisor with the City of Chicago's Law Department. Roberts returned to the State's Attorney's office two and a half years ago to work as a felony trial assistant in the Community Prosecution Division and then in the Complex Narcotics unit at 26th Street and California Avenue.
Roberts resides in Oak Park with her partner of 15 years, Alison White, and their two children. She believes in community and is proud to be the founder of the Ravenswood 5k Run Race. This race provides support to a local food pantry and high school health center. Roberts has also been a member of the board and lay president of the board at All Saints Episcopal Church in Ravenswood.
See www.marycolleenrobertsforjudge.com .