Glasgow Taps Accomplished Journalist, Government Administrator, and Attorney to Spearhead Groundbreaking Community Initiatives

November 27

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow today announced that he has created a new position to assist him in advancing community crime prevention and justice initiatives, engaging with members of the community, creating partnerships, and communicating with the public and media. 

“The Director of Public Affairs, Community Engagement and Partnerships will aid in the important role of bringing together members of our community in my continuing efforts to serve the people of Will County,” Glasgow said. “We will expand on existing programs that utilize creative solutions that offer justice and compassion to crime victims, rehabilitation for non-violent offenders who seek a self-sustaining, law-abiding life, and a hand-up to those who need assistance in building their future as part of our community.”

Glasgow has tapped highly skilled and respected attorney, Carole Cheney, to fill the newly created position. Cheney was a litigation partner at the acclaimed international law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP before leaving the firm for a position as District Chief of Staff to Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11). Previously, Cheney was a news director and anchored broadcasts at a national public radio affiliate, and served as press secretary for the Illinois Senate. She was also the national news media coordinator for the National Safety Council, a nationwide not-for-profit organization. 

She graduated from Northwestern University School of Law where she achieved the prestigious honor of being named Editor-in Chief of the Law Review and was accorded membership in the honorary scholastic society Order of the Coif. Thereafter, she was chosen for the position as judicial Clerk with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She previously received a master’s degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois in Springfield, and a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana. 

According to Glasgow, “With her legal, communications, and government affairs background, as well as her genuine compassion for the human condition, Ms. Cheney brings to the table a skill set that will assist me in further enhancing the services I have worked diligently to provide for the people of Will County – whether it is taking care of our veterans, helping victims of abuse, drafting legislative initiatives to protect our citizens and animals, or working with the members of our non-profit organizations to assist the at-risk community.”

“Through this new position, we will build upon the foundation I have already established in developing innovative programs and forming creative partnerships to protect and serve the people of Will County,” Glasgow said.

The new position will replace the Director of the Bureau of Crime Prevention and Public Access post held by Chuck Pelkie, who next week will begin a position in the office of the Will County Clerk. 

As Will County’s longest-serving State’s Attorney, Glasgow has implemented a variety of groundbreaking initiatives to investigate, prosecute, and prevent crime. Glasgow’s initiatives include having established a high technology crimes unit to identify internet child predators, the creation of the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center to protect child sexual abuse victims and prosecute their abusers, spearheading numerous innovative specialized courts including the Drug Court, Veterans Court, Domestic Violence Court, Mental Health Court, and Redeploy Court, and the creation of the Extraordinary League of Canines – an all-inclusive program to protect domestic animals in Will County. 

Under Glasgow’s leadership, the office has maintained a felony conviction rate 15 points higher than the state average while serving the public with innovative programs to address community justice needs.