REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION, INTERGOVERNMENTAL

& VETERANS RELATIONS

March 17, 2009

The Honorable,

The Board of Commissioners of Cook County

ATTENDANCE

Present:

Chairman Suffredin, Vice Chairman Silvestri, Commissioners Beavers, Butler, Daley, Gorman, Goslin, Moreno, Murphy and Sims (10)

Absent:

Commissioners Claypool, Collins, Maldonado, Peraica, Quigley, Schneider and Steele (7)

Also Present:

The Honorable Abishi Carrando “A.C.” Cunningham, Jr.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Your Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veterans Relations of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at the hour of 9:15 A.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

Your Committee has considered the following item and, upon adoption of this report, the recommendations are as follows:

299117

COOK COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER (APPOINTMENT). Transmitting a Communication, dated March 3, 2009 from Todd H. Stroger, President, Cook County Board of Commissioners: I hereby appoint MR. ABISHI CARRANDO "A.C." CUNNINGHAM, JR. to serve as the Cook County Public Defender for a six year term beginning April 1, 2009 and ending March 31, 2015. Mr. Cunningham shall assume the position of Public Defender following the expiration of Mr. Edwin A. Burnette's appointed term. Mr. Burnette's appointment expires March 31, 2009 and I thank him for his service. Mr. Cunningham has extensive legal and administrative experience that will be an asset to the administration of the Cook County Public Defender's Office. Not only does Mr. Cunningham have significant legal supervisory experience from his time serving in positions such as, Chief Supervising Prosecutor of the Municipal District, Felony Trial Assistant and Chief of Vertical Prosecutions Unit in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office but he also has extensive experience in criminal prosecution and criminal defense. Moreover, Mr. Cunningham has specific experience in providing criminal defense services for indigent residents in felony, misdemeanor and juvenile cases as an alternative to representation by the Office of the Cook County Public Defender. Mr. Cunningham has recently served as an Associate Judge with the Circuit Court of Cook County where he has presided over thousands of misdemeanor bench trials and hundreds of criminal and civil jury trials. Mr. Cunningham satisfies all of the qualifications for the position of Public Defender as set forth in the Counties Code (55 ILCS 5/3-4004.2). I submit this communication with recommendation for your approval of the appointment. *Referred to the Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental and Veterans Affairs on March 4, 2009.

Chairman Suffredin requested that the following documents be entered into the record:

1. Letter dated 03-09-09 from The Honorable Francis A. Gembala (Retired) of Nadler, Pritikin & Mirabelli, LLC

2. Letter dated 03-09-09 from Mr. Todd A. Smith of Power, Rogers & Smith, P.C.

3. Letter dated 03-11-09 from Mr. Ezra Hemphill, Attorney-at-Law

4. Letter dated 03-14-09 from The Honorable Stuart A. Nudelman (Retired) of Arbitration & Mediation Services

5. Facsimile letter dated 03-16-09 from Mr. Anthony J. Kiselis, Attorney-at-Law

6. Letter dated 03-16-09 from The Honorable Thomas R. Allen, 38th Ward Alderman, City of Chicago

Commissioner Butler, seconded by Commissioner Moreno, moved the Approval of Communication No. 299117. The motion carried.

Chairman Suffredin asked the Secretary to the Board to call upon the registered public speakers, in accordance with Cook County Code, Sec. 2-108(dd):

1. Anthony J. Kiselis – Concerned Citizen

Vice Chairman Silvestri moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Daley. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned.

YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS

WITH REGARD TO THE MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:

Communication Number 299117 Approved

Respectfully submitted,

Committee on Legislation, Intergovernmental & Veterans Relations

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Larry Suffredin, Chairman

Attest:

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Matthew B. DeLeon, Secretary