JOLIET, Ill. — Robert Lorz, Criminal Division chief in the Will County State’s Attorney’s office, plans to retire from the position he had held for the past year.
State’s Attorney James Glasgow, when announcing Lorz’s plans, also announced Kathy Patton, who currently serves as his Felony Division chief, will be promoted to Criminal Division chief. Michael Fitzgerald, who currently serves on Glasgow’s Major Crimes Prosecution Unit, will be promoted to Felony Division chief.
“I want to thank Bob for the tremendous experience and leadership he brought to my Criminal Division,” Glasgow said. “My staff benefited greatly from the vast legal knowledge and unparalleled wisdom he accumulated over his 33-year career as a lawyer and as a distinguished Will County judge.
“On behalf of my entire staff, I want to congratulate him and wish him well in his retirement.”
Glasgow continued: “While we are sad to see Bob go, we are fortunate to have attorneys of Kathy Patton’s and Mike Fitzgerald’s caliber on staff and ready to take the helm in these key positions. Kathy and Mike are extraordinarily effective trial attorneys whose legal acumen and work ethic are greatly admired by the judges and attorneys who serve the interests of justice in Will County.”
Patton has been with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office for a total of 17 years, eight years in the 1980s and the last nine starting in 2001. She has successfully prosecuted numerous murder cases, as well as other felonies over the course of her distinguished career.
Glasgow and Patton share a long professional history having prosecuted many cases together as felony assistant state’s attorney’s in the 1980s.
As Criminal Division Chief, Patton will supervise 40 assistant state’s attorneys who are responsible for charging and prosecuting every felony and misdemeanor case handled by the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office. The office charges more than 3,000 new felony cases and more than 5,000 new misdemeanor cases each year.
As Felony Division chief, Fitzgerald will supervise 26 assistant state’s attorneys who prosecute the office’s felony cases. Fitzgerald has been with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office for 10 years. He has successfully prosecuted cases ranging from felony theft to first-degree murder. He has served as a felony courtroom supervisor and as a co-chief of the Major Crimes Prosecution Unit. He also served for five years as a prosecutor with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.
Prior to coming to the State’s Attorney’s Office, Lorz served 22 years as a Will County judge. He retired from the bench in December 2008 and worked as an attorney in private practice before accepting the Criminal Division chief position in October 2009.
While at the State’s Attorney’s Office, Lorz assisted in directing a Special Prosecutions Team that has reviewed and prosecuted many extraordinarily complicated murder cases over the past several years, including the investigation into the disappearance of Lisa Stebic; the prosecution of Christopher Vaughn, which is a death-penalty case; the prosecution of former Bolingbrook Police Sgt. Drew Peterson on charges that he murdered his third wife; and the prosecution of Scott Eby on charges that he murdered Riley Fox.
Glasgow said Lorz’s legal work on these cases has been invaluable. At the state’s attorney’s request, Lorz has agreed to serve the office as a part-time consultant on these cases after his retirement.
“I want to thank Jim for this wonderful opportunity and look forward to my new role with the office,” Lorz said. “I leave my full-time duties with renewed respect for the abilities and dedication of my colleagues and friends. I hope my perspective has been of some value this past year, but I leave knowing my position is in Kathy Patton’s capable hands.”
Lorz’s retirement and Patton’s and Fitzgerald’s promotions will take effect on Friday, Sept. 17.