This post is being run simultaneously in “For What It’s Worth,” a political blog site hosted by Jack Leyhane.
Hi, my name is Laura J. Morask. As a Judicial candidate in the 12th Sub circuit I offer voters a wealth of legal experience as a 22-year courtroom veteran and strength of purpose based on a life of accomplishments as a businesswoman, writer, wife, mother and daughter.
My work ethic and moral compass come from the strong family background of my immigrant father who rose from concentration camp survivor to internationally renowned architect; designer of the John Hancock Center and my mother, a life long Chicago resident, published editor and author. From them I learned to face, not fear new experiences; that life is not a series of obstacles to be dreaded but dreams to achieve, hurdles to be overcome, and challenges to be met. I was fifteen when my mother died after a long battle against bone cancer. I was forced to grow up fast and take on the responsibility of helping to raise my younger brother while attending high school and working.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in English at Washington University, I moved to New York City. I founded a clothing design business with two friends. As partner, sales and personnel manager I was responsible for over fifteen employees and learned every aspect of operating a successful business that flourished into annual sales growth of a half million dollars within four years.
In 1983, I returned home to Chicago, took the law boards, and discovered an affinity for the law. While at Chicago-Kent College of Law, I enrolled in an intensive trial advocacy course where I found the passion that defined the next 25 years of my life; courtroom trial work. I joined the Kent Legal Clinic where I externed as a clerk for the Public Defender’s Office, the State Appellate Defender’s Office and private criminal law firms providing a broad spectrum of experience including trial work, appellate advocacy, motion practice, research and brief writing, and a core foundation in the rules and procedures of all levels of state and federal court.
I joined the State’s Attorneys’ Office in 1986 working up to my current assignment as Supervisor of Preliminary Hearings, serving stints in diverse legal arenas; Appellate, Juvenile, Grand Jury/Preliminary hearing, child protection, narcotics units before promotion to the felony trial division in 1991. I eventually supervised a court call of three hundred cases and prosecuted over seventy juries, hundreds of bench trials and motions as lead attorney.
In 1998, I spearheaded a new unit, implementing a Congressional grant to combat violence against women. As the first Senior Sex Trial Specialist I successfully prosecuted sixty of the most serious and violent sex offenders; including child predators, domestic abusers and repeat offenders. Combining my interests in biology and law, I developed an expertise in DNA. Over the years I have advised and taught many fellow lawyers how to analyze and effectively present DNA evidence. I lecture locally and nationally and published a chapter in the Joint Cook and DuPage County Training Manual for Prosecutors. My DNA expertise was recently featured on FOX News.
In 2001, I joined the Special Prosecutions Bureau, Gang Crimes Unit where I successfully prosecuted dozens of murder jury trials and worked with a task force disbanding the leadership of the Black Disciple street gang. This task force required cooperative effort from the FBI, DEA, CPD, Customs, ATF, state and federal prosecutors. As liaison to the Skokie Court House I prosecuted cases for the Evanston, New Trier, Maine and Northfield townships communities bringing together members of law enforcement, school and civic groups to pursue a common goal of justice, providing an opportunity to directly serve the citizens of the 12th sub circuit. I was promoted to Supervisor in 2005.
As the deputy supervisor of preliminary hearings for Branch 44 at Harrison and Kedzie handling all of the felony cases on Chicago’s west side, I currently supervise the prosecution of 400 cases monthly, train dozens of younger assistants and manage a staff of courtroom personnel.
As a second term Trustee on the Maine Township Board I help administer a five million dollar budget to fund agencies serving children, seniors, and unincorporated Maine Township. I co-chair the National Night Out Against Crime committee which funds scholarships for disadvantaged youth. I lecture to the Mainstay youth and family department on the dangers of gang activity in the township. My work with providing township at-risk youth and families gang prevention strategies, was featured on WGN News.
I have extensive teaching experience as a faculty member of the National College of District Attorneys, an adjunct faculty Instructor at Loyola, a regular guest instructor and judge for area law schools, National and Regional competitions, the American Bar Association and National Institute of Trial Advocacy. I have published in the fields of Gang Crimes and DNA and featured in a ten-part video series used to train law enforcement officers nationwide in courtroom presentation. I have served on many bar associations’ Judicial Evaluation Committees as well as on the Editorial Boards of the Chicago Bar Magazine and Illinois State Bar Associations Law & Government Newsletter.
I have been married for nineteen years to my husband, Dean, a former prosecutor, now a successful private attorney. We have two teenage sons, who attend local Park Ridge public schools. I am an active volunteer in numerous civic and charity groups; Ronald McDonald House, Emerson, Maine South PTO’s and Mothers’ Clubs as well as at local schools where I teach government at career day and conduct mock trials. A fifteen-year member of the American Legion, my community and legal service were recognized when I was among the first women presented the Legion’s distinguished Award of Excellence for Service to the American Constitution by CD Burton Post 808.
Because my life has taken this unpredictable path to the law I have gained valuable skills including empathy, passion, perseverance and common sense, all assets to the bench. My dedication to public service is recognized by endorsements from township, women’s’, and civic organizations as well as State Senators, Representatives, local Mayors and dignitaries. I firmly believe all citizens should encounter a fair, expeditions, and courteous court system. I would be honored to be elected to fulfill one of the three highest ways a citizen can serve their country: voting, military service and jury/Judicial service.
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