Name: Bob Spence
Position for which you are a candidate:
Kane County States Attorney
Why are you seeking this position?
I believe that this position is about serving the community. I have unique experience that allows me to serve in a unique way, and that experience is unmatched by my opponent. This position is all about seeking justice, both for the guilty and for the innocent. Kane County needs a chief prosecutor who will ensure that the guilty do not go free . . . but also that the innocent are not convicted.
What experience and background do you have which qualifies you for this position?
I served as an assistant state’s attorney and deputy attorney general for 20 years. During that time, I tried 17 murder/homicide cases, compared to the 1 murder case my opponent tried as an assistant state’s attorney (note, I am speaking of Murder cases which are actually tried, not plea bargained.). As a prosecutor, I had experience in 3 different prosecutor offices, which gives me a more global perspective. At the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, I supervised all criminal prosecutions brought by that office, and the 60 assistant attorneys general who litigated those cases. I served as a Kane County Circuit Court Judge for 18 years, which included being Chief Judge, supervising 35 judges and over 200 probation officers and court personnel, with a $17 million budget. I finished the last 7 years of my legal career assigned to the Illinois Appellate Court, which has given me a much broader perspective of how the criminal justice system functions. I wrote opinions (and joined others) reversing defendants’ convictions where the evidence was insufficient, and affirming convictions where appropriate. This experience is helpful in both convicting the guilty and protecting the rights of the innocent. The State’s Attorney position is most similar to that of a player-coach. It’s hard to coach younger, less-experienced attorneys if you don’t have the experience yourself. I also authored opinions upholding citizens’ rights under the Freedom of Information Act. See my web site
What will be your highest priorities if elected?
The criminal justice system is under intense scrutiny and it is critical that the community has confidence in the system; the right person being prosecuted for the right crime. We need a vigorous felony screening unit, where experienced assistant state’s attorneys review the case with the police, before the person is ever charged. Post-conviction, we need assurance that the person convicted of the crime is the person who committed the crime. Some neighboring counties have had a number of wrongful convictions; this has not been a major issue in Kane County. The most common scenario where this arises is where a person serving a prison sentence files a petition with the trial court, seeking forensic testing of evidence that was not tested at the time of trial. DNA testing is the most common request. I plan on implementing a Conviction Review Unit. When a defendant files a petition alleging actual innocence, we will assign the most experienced prosecutors in the office to review the case, analyze new evidence being presented, and make a recommendation as to how to proceed. Another challenge is ensuring adequate compensation for the employees. Historically, the SAO has lost attorneys to surrounding counties due to salary issues, after investing years of training and experience into these attorneys. Other priorities would be violent crimes, greater victim services, greater training and mentoring within the office, expanding treatment courts and diversion programs.
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