GOP candidates talk about issues in race for Illinois attorney general

Three candidates are vying for the Republican nomination for Illinois legal professional typical in the June 28 key election.

We questioned every single prospect three inquiries to study far more about who they are and wherever they stand on essential troubles influencing the condition. Below are their responses.

David Shestokas

Dave Shestokas

Dave Shestokas

Age: 70

Metropolis of residence: Orland Park

Education and learning: Bachelor of Arts, Bradley College, studied comparative authorized systems at Trinity College, Dublin Ireland, and gained a Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law University

Function experience: Arbitrator, Will County Courthouse listening to officer, Chicago Board of Election Commissioners former assistant Prepare dinner County state’s attorney represented former President Donald Trump before electoral boards in Western Pennsylvania Amicus Polinae writer of three textbooks: “Constitutional Audio Bites,” “Capsulas Informatives Constitucionales,” and “Developing the Declaration of Independence” host of radio present and podcast, “Constitutional Audio Bites”

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Corporations and memberships: Nationwide Republican Lawyers Association senior fellow, Illinois Conservative Union political advisor, Heartland Institute Countrywide Republican Senatorial Committee To start with Globe Congress of Lithuanian Legal professionals associate member, Polish American Congress

Political practical experience: Illinois State Central Committee for Ballot Integrity

With gun violence at alarmingly superior ranges in communities across the state, what felony justice reforms would you request and assist as top rated priorities and why?

The problem is enforcement. The Legal professional Normal, pursuant to the Illinois Constitution, Legal professional Typical Act and Supreme Court docket thoughts, has authority to prosecute crimes when the regional prosecutors are unsuccessful to do so. To paraphrase new Virginia Lawyer Typical Jason Miyares:  “When the neighborhood prosecutors fall short to prosecute crimes, the Business office of the Attorney Basic will.”  As a previous Prepare dinner County prosecutor I was associated in around 400 felony prosecutions and 10,000+ misdemeanor instances.  The future time both of my opponents are included in criminal prosecution will be the 1st.

The “reform” is to enforce present guidelines, not to use prosecutorial discretion to illegally rewrite legislation to impose “proportionality”.  Each case ought to tackle the allegations, information, legislation and individual defendant. The demography of victim or defendant must have no bearing on prosecutorial conclusions. Even handed and powerful enforcement addresses violence by lawfully eradicating those who do violence from our streets.

If the U.S. Supreme Court docket overturns Roe V. Wade, would you assistance the Illinois Reproductive Overall health Functions and other regulations passed in Illinois that give women of all ages the potential to seek abortions?

The Workplace of the Legal professional Basic is not a legislative workplace, but a legislation enforcement office environment. The Lawyer General has no position in legislation or its closing executive acceptance (i.e. the governor’s signature). If I could amend the Illinois Constitution I would make the AG “non-partisan”. As Legal professional General I would be charged with enforcing legislation duly handed by the legislature pursuant to the authority of the Illinois and United States Constitutions. I would do my responsibility as the oath of the office necessitates. As the Attorney General I would contribute expertise to the legislative procedure in places similar to law enforcement and community basic safety associated to the responsibilities of the business office.

How will you work to aid the legal rights of transgender individuals in Illinois?

As the Illinois Attorney Standard my get the job done will be devoted to supporting the legal rights of all citizens in the State of Illinois. In the the latest earlier the mind-set of the Lawyer Common office has been to protect the govt at all costs when citizens act to vindicate their statutory or constitutional legal rights. The new default posture of the Attorney General will be investigate the promises and request a resolution via negotiation, not litigation. This posture of the business applies equally to all citizens, which includes transgender.

Steve Kim

Steve Kim

Steve Kim

Age: 52

Town of Home: Deerfield

Education: Loyola College of Chicago, Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate

Function Experience: RKF World-wide, Of Counsel Augustus International Ventures, managing director

Political working experience: Commissioner, Illinois Human Legal rights Commission Illinois Supreme Courtroom Procedures Committee member, Northfield Township trustee Chairman, Sen. Mark Kirk Asian American Advisory Council member of Sen. Kirk’s Compact Company Advisory Council chairman, Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s Efficiency Audit Committee

U.S. State Office Abroad Safety Advisory Council, Basra Iraq  Republican Presidential Delegate member, Illinois Republican National Committee Platform Committee and member, Lake County Reform and Accountability Commission

Family: Wife—Misuk, Son—Lincoln, 11

With gun violence at alarmingly superior degrees in communities across the state, what prison justice reforms would you seek and assistance as prime priorities and why?  

Initial and foremost, Governor Pritzker and Attorney Normal Raoul determined to engage in politics with community security when they advocated for the Safe-T act, offering no funds bail among the other inadequate plan selections that put criminals back on the streets. I think we need to have to roll back that monthly bill and empower our State’s Attorneys to do their work opportunities, prosecuting violent crime and trying to get sentences that will keep our streets harmless. 2nd, we want to partner with just about every of our State’s Lawyers, and hold those people who are not accomplishing their positions accountable. As I have spoken with legislation enforcement throughout the point out, I hear usually about circumstances that are brought to the State’s Attorney’s place of work that are bungled our outright not pursued. That is a travesty and it’s building our streets less harmless.

If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe V. Wade, would you assist the Illinois Reproductive Wellness Functions and other guidelines passed in Illinois that give ladies the ability to look for abortions?

As Legal professional Standard, my position is to implement the legislation of this point out, not to legislate. I believe that in the rule of law, and pledge to help that as Lawyer General. That is why I will make combating crime and corruption my top priority in the Lawyer General’s business office. I have noticed what takes place in places that drop faith in their community protection. Society crumbles. I am identified to not let that come about in this condition that I really like.

How will you do the job to help the rights of transgender persons in Illinois? 

As a commissioner on the Illinois Human Rights Commission, I have adjudicated hundreds of civil liberties instances, and have generally set the legal rights of these who occur just before the commission first. I will do the exact same as Attorney Normal, placing the civil liberties of just about every Illinoisan initial.

Thomas DeVore

Declined to reply the questionnaire.

The winner of the June 28 GOP most important election will face incumbent Democrat Attorney General Kwame Raoul in November.

Jim Hagerty: [email protected] @jimhagerty

This short article initially appeared on Rockford Register Star: In which Republican candidates stand on problems in Illinois AG race