Springfield…. Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) has tapped former Assistant U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois Robert J. Milan to serve as senior advisor to the Illinois House Republican Leader on criminal justice reform issues. Milan will staff the newly created Governor’s Commission on Sentencing and Corrections. The purpose behind this commission is to solve the State’s issues with prison overcrowding and justice reform.
“I am proud to have enlisted the expertise of Robert Milan to help our team navigate this important criminal justice reform commission,” Durkin said. “He has had a long and distinguished career as a prosecutor and law professor. Personally, I have known Robert for many years – he is a man of integrity and will be an invaluable resource for the House Republican Caucus as we deal with reforming our prison and criminal justice system.”
Milan worked as the First Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County prior to being named an Assistant U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois. In Cook County, Milan prosecuted serial killers and murderers of police officers. He supervised several different bureaus within the state’s attorney’s office, and helped put in place videotaping procedures for homicide investigations.
At the federal level, Milan prosecuted cases involving white-collar criminals, financial crimes and conspiracies. He taught trial advocacy for eight years at Chicago’s Kent College of Law and has been invited to deliver lectures at Duke University, Northwestern Law School and the Loyola University School of Law. Milan is currently a managing director in the Chicago office of Stroz Friedburg.
“This commission will be an integral part of our efforts to reform and constantly improve Illinois’ criminal justice system,” Durkin said. “I am confident that Robert Milan will be an asset to our members in making sure our system works fairly and properly for all the people of Illinois.”
“It is an honor to serve Leader Durkin regarding these very important issues. The Commission has been handed a very big and important task by the Governor and they have their work cut out for them. I look forward to attending the hearings and advising Republican lawmakers and staff as we move through the process,” said Milan.
As a special counsel to Leader Durkin, Milan will be offering his services pro bono to the House Republican Caucus. The commission includes a bipartisan group of legislators, prosecutors, defense attorneys and representatives of various fields of the criminal justice community. The commission is chaired by former U.S. Attorney Rodger Heaton, Illinois’ director of public safety and Governor Rauner’s homeland security advisor.