Specialties & Experience of this Expert Witness

Additional Information

In April 2017, Lauren retired from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office after a distinguished 30-year career during which she handled some of Chicago's highest-profile prosecutions. Lauren’s extensive prosecutorial and investigative review experience positions her as a valuable independent consultant for case assessment, consulting, and expert witness work in civil and criminal cases alleging prosecutorial misconduct. During her first decade as an A.S.A., Lauren handled appeals, misdemeanors, domestic violence cases, felony review, preliminary hearings, grand jury investigations/indictments, narcotics prosecutions, sex crimes, child exploitation, and the gamut of felony cases, including first-degree murders. She litigated countless felony motions and trials in some of the busiest courtrooms in the country. The final 12 years of her career, she was assigned to the Special Prosecutions Bureau's Professional Standards Unit, focusing on the investigative review, indictment, and prosecution of law enforcement officers for alleged felony offenses and the use of excessive force. In addition, Lauren's unit reviewed all of the officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths that took place in Cook County. She conducted grand jury investigations, drafted indictments, reviewed forensic evidence, interviewed hundreds of witnesses and police officers, and assessed internal administrative investigations. She worked closely with numerous investigative agencies and police departments, requested additional investigation if needed, and drafted detailed charging memorandums, many of which were reviewed by the elected State's Attorneys. In January 2019, Lauren was selected to serve as a Hearing Officer for the Chicago Police Board and will preside over administrative proceedings involving the most serious police misconduct allegations. She is also a member of the NDAA, ABA, the CBA's Judicial Evaluation Committee, and the IL Prosecutors Bar Association.