About Laura Morask
Public Service / Elected Office Experience
2001-present, Trustee, Maine Township
1998-present, Founding Member, Prosecutor’s Bar Association (PBA)
1998-2007, Co-Chair, PBA Judicial Evaluation Committee
2000, Invited Speaker, PBA Seminar; Jointly sponsored by Dupage and Cook County State’s Attorney’s Offices; “DNA Evidence Simplified”, How to effectively analyze and present DNA evidence in Court.
200-2002, Instructor and Faculty, National Institute of Trial Advocacy, Columbia, South Carolina, “Proliferation of Girl Gangs”
1999-present, Member, Northwestern Suburban Bar Association (NWSBA)
Member, NWSBA Judicial Evaluation Committee
1998-2002, Member, Women’s Bar Association (WBA)
1998-2000, Member, WBA Judicial Evaluation Committee
1998-2003, Member Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)
1998-1999, Member ISBA, Judicial Evaluation Committee
1987-present, Member Chicago Bar Association (CBA)
Former Member, CBA Judicial Evaluation Committee;
Former Member, CBA Record Editorial Board
1996-present, Member, Carpenter Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Member, American Legion, Awarded Service to the American Constitution
Member, Emerson & Maine South PTOs
Volunteer, Committee Member, National Night Out Against Crime
Volunteer, Lecturer to MaineStay Youth and Family Services
Sponsor, Park Ridge Junior Foundation
Ethics Advisor, Maine Township Board
Campaign Experience
2005 Candidate for Re-Election Maine Township Trustee (re-elected)
2001 Candidate for Maine Township Trustee (elected)
2001-present: worked on numerous campaigns of Candidates for a wide range of office including Maine Township Board, Judicial Races, State Senatorial Races, State Representative Races.
1998 Finalist for District 64 School Board
Education
1987, J.D., Chicago Kent College of Law
1978, B.A. in English Literature, Washington University
1974, High School Diploma, Highland Park High School
Occupations
2004-present, Supervisor: Branch 44 Preliminary Hearing, Cook County State’s Attorneys Office :Responsible for all felony cases coming into the court system at Harrison and Kedzie Courthouse, assist police daily with coordinating court dates, indictment and preliminary hearing dates, advise on search and arrest warrants and ongoing investigations. Responsible for training and supervising dozens of younger Assistant State’s Attorneys and supervising Branch 44 staff and advising Branch 43 (misdemeanor) staff.
2001-2004, Special Prosecutions Bureau, Gang Crimes Unit, Senior Gang Crimes Prosecutor: responsible for handling the most serious complex gang prosecutions countywide as well as long-term multi-jurisdictional task forces targeting specific gangs. Gang Crimes liaison to the Skokie Court complex, handled numerous cases at the Skokie Courthouse including multiple first degree murders, Child sex offenses, as well as weapons and narcotics cases involving victims from the Maine Township community.
2001-2004, Member, Multi-jurisdictional task force including the FBI, DEA, CPD, Customs and ATF; responsible for long -term coordination of these teams to target., apprehend, and prosecute the high ranking leaders of the Black Disciple Street Gang
1998-2001-Senior Sex Trial Specialist, Instrumental in developing and implementing the first vertical felony prosecution unit under the Congressional Violence against Adult Women Act. First senior sex crimes trial specialist, responsible for investigating and prosecuting the most serious sex crimes predators all of whom were either recidivist, involved DNA or domestic violence and stalking issues. In this two year assignment prosecuted successfully to jury thirty Class x sex offenders as well as handled seven special prosecutions, successfully prosecuting two First Degree Murder of children, and one Capitol case involving First Degree murder and rape of an eleven year old girl and her mother. Coordinated cases with numerous police agencies; Chicago Police Department special victims Detectives, University of Illinois police department, numerous northwest suburban police departments as well as NORTAF, NEMEG and the multi-unit Major Crimes Taskforce.
1987-present, Attorney, Cook County State’s Attorneys Office: Responsible for prosecuting the highest number of jury trials in Cook County. Prosecuted successfully over 155 jury trials, all Class x felony or higher (First Degree Murder, Solicitation to Commit Murder, Capitol cases)
