Someone you should know: Lori G. Levin

Lori G. Levin is unquestionably someone you should know. Her tenacity and curiosity have led to a very successful career in government. Her membership on various boards and committees ignite her interest in public policy, and her extensive legal background enabled her to gain experience in the courtroom and in the boardroom. 

Levin was raised on the north side of Chicago. At 15, her family moved to Wilmette where she graduated from New Trier West High School. Levin attended the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, receiving a degree in Journalism. Although she had a passion for writing, Levin also had an itch for the study of law. She was uncertain whether she wanted to be a journalist or an attorney, so she enrolled in law school to find out. Levin attended Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. to pursue her legal studies because of its renowned clinical program. Levin was excited about the opportunity to work with Bill Greenhalgh, who is considered the father of clinical education. Levin also knew that being in the heart of the nation’s capital would provide all sorts of great opportunities. Boy, was she right. 

During law school, Levin was able to try a broad range of misdemeanor and petty offense cases. In addition, she performed post conviction work through the public defender’s office. She was also one of four law students selected to work at the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria. Levin considers this latter opportunity to have been a “pivotal point” in her future. Through this program, Levin was able to try two federal felony cases as a third-year law student, putting on witnesses, engaging in motion practice, and presenting arguments before the court. Through her work at the United States Attorney’s Office, Levin also met a number of people that have risen to national prominence, including Karen Tandy, head of the United State Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Honorable Leonie Brinkema, United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia (the federal judge overseeing the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui). 

After graduating from law school, Levin returned to Illinois and began working at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Within a couple of years she was assigned to Juvenile Court. Then, after “working her way up the ranks” at 26th Street, Levin became the first chair in a felony court room. She was first chair for about a decade, and she ultimately became supervisor of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Division. As supervisor, she oversaw cases involving the involuntary commitment of the mentally ill and addressing elder abuse issues. She also worked on legislation through the Illinois State Bar Association’s Mental Health Law Committee, a committee she later chaired.

In August of 2003, Levin was appointed Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority by Governor Rod Blagojevich. She strives to improve the administration of the criminal justice system in the State of Illinois. One such improvement is the computer integration of the state’s criminal justice system. This change permits the integration of the computer systems of the state prosecutors, the state’s law enforcement officers, and the clerks of the circuit courts. Levin primarily seeks grant moneys in order to fund improvements for various sectors of society, such as grants to benefit law enforcement, corrections, elder abuse, and violence against women. She is currently working to obtain grant money to expand the projects for mentally ill defendants at the Cook County Jail. 

In her free time, Levin enjoys yoga, riding her bicycle, reading, and eating a good meal with friends. Although she loves her job, she does find herself missing the courtroom at times. However, Levin’s work with public policy continues to drive her two passions regarding the law: criminal defense and mental illness. She is truly an incredible individual who has accomplished so much.