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OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MICHAEL G. NERHEIM
STATE'S ATTORNEY
Sept. 22, 2020
For Immediate Release
Contact: Lee Filas
(847) 377-3141 – office
(847) 707-6479 – cell
lfilas@lakecountyil.gov
Mary Lu Cole named Assistant State's Attorney of the Year by AAIM
 Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Mary Lu Cole
(Lake County, IL) Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim announced this week that Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Lu Cole has been named the Outstanding Assistant State’s Attorney for 2020 by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists - Illinois.
Cole accepted the prestigious award during a brief ceremony at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan. The award was in recognition and gratitude for outstanding dedication to championing the cause of justice for impaired-driving crash victims and their families.
“I am truly honored and privileged to receive this prestigious award from the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists,” Cole said. “It’s an honor to work alongside this group in our continued effort to reduce the number of deaths due to people who drive while impaired or distracted.”
Cole has been a Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney for just under two years. She currently works the misdemeanor DUI court call in front of Lake County Circuit Court Judge Christopher Stride.
“We are extremely proud of the hard work Mary performs every day for the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office,” State’s Attorney Nerheim said. “She is the consummate professional and one of the hardest workers in our office. This award is very well deserved.”
The mission of the Alliance against Intoxicated Motorists is to prevent deaths and injuries caused by chemically impaired or distracted operators of any motor vehicle or watercraft and to assist victims of these crashes in Illinois, said Cathy Stanley, court watch director for AAIM. The organization believes deaths and injuries caused by impaired and distracted driving are the willful conduct of drivers. In addition, the organization believes being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or being distracted, does not absolve one of accountability for one's actions.
AAIM annually names one prosecutor from northern Illinois as the assistant state’s attorney of the year, Stanley said. In total, AAIM monitors nine court houses from the northern suburbs, including the counties of Cook, Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane, Winnebego and others.
Stanley said Cole’s work routinely stood out from the numerous young assistant state’s attorneys nominated for the award in 2020.
“This award is handed out annually to the assistant state’s attorney who exemplifies our cause to keep the roads safe for the citizens of Illinois,” Stanley said. “Mary does a great job of helping victims and attorneys, She's very fair, honest, and treats everyone extremely professionally.”
 From left: AAIM Court Watch Director Cathy Stanley, Associate Lake County Judge Patricia Cornell, Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim, Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Mary Lu Cole, AAIM Court Monitor Lisa Marshall, 19th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Diane Winter, Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Scott Hoffert
 From Left: AAIM Court Watch Director Cathy Stanley, Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Mary Lu Cole, AAIM Court Monitor Lisa Marshall
 From left: AAIM Court Watch Director Cathy Stanley, 19th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Christopher Stride, Lake County State's Attorney Michael Nerheim, Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Mary Lu Cole, AAIM Court Monitor Lisa Marshall, 19th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Diane Winter, Assistant Lake County State's Attorney Scott Hoffert
Lake County State's Attorney's Office 18 N. County Street Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: (847) 377-3000
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