21 Facts About Anita Alvarez

Anita Alvarez attended Maria High School and received her undergraduate degree from Loyola University of Chicago in 1982.

Anita Alvarez earned her JD degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1986.

Anita Alvarez began her career as an Assistant State's Attorney in 1986.

Anita Alvarez has argued before the Illinois Appellate Court and tried more than 50 felony jury trials.

Anita Alvarez was promoted to the Supervisor of the Public Integrity Unit in 1996, where she was responsible for prosecuting city, county, and state employees who committed felonies and violated the public trust.

Anita Alvarez claimed to have tried police officers on corruption charges.

In 2001, Alvarez tried the case of the People of the State of Illinois v Patrick Sykes, which was referred to in the media as the "Girl X Case".

Anita Alvarez was the first female, first Hispanic and first career prosecutor ever elected to this position.

Anita Alvarez ran for reelection again in 2016, but was defeated in the primary election by Kim Foxx.

Anita Alvarez created a Human Trafficking Initiative that works closely with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to crack down on individuals and human trafficking groups.

Anita Alvarez was interviewed in a 2012 60 Minutes segment "Chicago: The False Confession Capital", in which she defended police conduct in two cases involving false confessions which were vacated by the courts which issued certificates of innocence to the defendants.

Anita Alvarez defended Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios in a suit against Berrios filed in 2001 by Cook County Inspector General Patrick Blanchard.

The peddling charge was dropped and Anita Alvarez pursued the much harsher charge of recording police officers' voices without their permission.

In 2013, Anita Alvarez's office charged Dante Servin, the police officer who shot Rekia Boyd, with involuntary manslaughter.

Anita Alvarez refused to resign, but on March 15,2016, lost her re-election bid in the Democratic primary.

Anita Alvarez approved the keeping of a 15-year-old minor in solitary confinement in Cook County Jail for 4 years pending trial.

Anita Alvarez refused to resign when asked, yet settled suit against the city in 2012 for malicious prosecution by local Cochran offices for $1 million.

Anita Alvarez was elected as Cook County State's Attorney in November 2008.

Anita Alvarez faced two challengers from both the Republican and Green Party in November 2008's general election.

Anita Alvarez was reelected to a second term as Cook County State's Attorney in 2012 after defeating Republican challenger Lori Yokoyama.

Anita Alvarez was married to Dr James Gomez until May 2021.