Longtime prosecutor named La Salle County attorney

A longtime prosecutor now will serve as an adviser to the La Salle County Board.

On Thursday, Jeremiah Adams, a longtime member of the La Salle County State’s Attorney’s Office, was named as Mark Anderson’s replacement.

Anderson bade goodbye to the 29-member board, which he’d served for the past 12 years.

Anderson recently was appointed as an associate judge and will don the black robes for the first time at his July 16 swearing-in.

“I wanted to come and thank you all,” Anderson told the board, admitting that he came in “wide-eyed” and in need of experienced counsel. “Twelve years later, I couldn’t be happier to have spent the time here.”

Adams is assigned to the felony division and has several pending murder trials he must see through.

La Salle County State’s Attorney Joe Navarro said Adams, a prosecutor with almost 20 years of experience, stood out among the lawyers who expressed an interest in filling Anderson’s post.

“He’ll get up to speed very quick,” Navarro said.

Adams said he anticipates a few wide-eyed moments of his own but said he is eager to get started after clearing his docket in the felony division.

“I thank you all for this opportunity,” Adams said. “I thank you all for giving me this opportunity, and I look forward to working with you all.”