Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke Reflects on First 15 Months in Office

O'Neill Burke says she's focused on keeping violent offenders off the streets and supporting victims, especially in domestic violence cases.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 12:18am

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An extreme close-up of a prosecutor's gavel against a stark black background, creating a gritty, investigative aesthetic that reflects the serious nature of the State's Attorney's work.The Cook County State's Attorney's Office takes a tough stance on violent crimes and domestic violence under Eileen O'Neill Burke's leadership.Chicago Today

In an interview, Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke looked back on her first 15 months in office, discussing her efforts to improve morale in the prosecutor's office, ramp up specialized training, and address rising rates of domestic violence and CTA-related crimes. She emphasized her commitment to making decisions based on the law and facts, rather than politics.

Why it matters

As the top prosecutor in the second largest prosecutorial office in the nation, O'Neill Burke's actions and priorities have a significant impact on public safety and the criminal justice system in Cook County. Her focus on supporting victims, especially in domestic violence cases, and keeping violent offenders off the streets is crucial for addressing the county's ongoing challenges with violent crime.

The details

Since taking office, O'Neill Burke says she has turned around low morale in the prosecutor's office, going from every division being understaffed to now having a waiting list of people who want to work there. She has also ramped up specialized training to prosecute cybercrimes, crypto cases, hate crimes, animal cruelty, and other emerging areas. However, O'Neill Burke says the steady stream of domestic violence cases is what keeps her up at night, and the office has created a special bureau to focus on those types of cases.

  • O'Neill Burke was elected Cook County State's Attorney in November 2024.
  • She began her term in office in January 2025.
  • This interview reflects on her first 15 months in office, from January 2025 to April 2026.

The players

Eileen O'Neill Burke

The Cook County State's Attorney, elected in 2024 and serving since January 2025. As the top prosecutor in the second largest prosecutorial office in the nation, she is responsible for overseeing criminal prosecutions in Cook County, Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“We make our decisions on charging and prosecution based on the law and the facts and nothing else.”

— Eileen O'Neill Burke, Cook County State's Attorney

“We have turned that around. We went from every single division being understaffed to now we have a waiting list of people who want to come work here.”

— Eileen O'Neill Burke, Cook County State's Attorney

“That will continue to be a challenge until we get our domestic violence rates down to a level that we don't see an increase. We're going to address it as we go forward and make sure our victims are not afraid to come to court and make sure our victims feel heard and supported and responded to.”

— Eileen O'Neill Burke, Cook County State's Attorney

What’s next

O'Neill Burke plans to continue her focus on specialized training, supporting victims, and keeping violent offenders off the streets. She will also work to address the ongoing challenges of domestic violence and CTA-related crimes in Cook County.

The takeaway

As the top prosecutor in Cook County, Eileen O'Neill Burke is committed to making decisions based on the law and facts, rather than politics. Her priorities include improving morale in the prosecutor's office, ramping up specialized training, and addressing the county's challenges with domestic violence and violent crime, with a focus on supporting victims and keeping dangerous offenders off the streets.