Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez has named Daniel Kirk, an openly gay man, to the position of First Assistant State's Attorney.
In his new role, Kirk, 42, will serve as second in command in the State's Attorney's Office, managing day-to-day operations and legal affairs that the office prosecutes, investigates and litigates. Kirk will also serve as an advisor to the State's Attorney on issues including violent crime, public corruption, financial crimes, gang crimes, narcotics and civil litigation. In addition to his managerial role, Kirk also continues to prosecute specially assigned matters in court.
Prior to his new appointment, Kirk served as Chief of Staff to State's Attorney Alvarez.
"I am proud to name Dan Kirk as my First Assistant. He brings a diverse legal background as well as a keen understanding of the day-to-day operations of our office," said Alvarez. "Most importantly, he shares my commitment to continually look for ways to improve our operations and provide justice and public safety to the citizens of Cook County."
Before returning to the State's Attorney's Office in 2008, Kirk was a partner at the Chicago law firm of Querrey & Harrow, Ltd. His practice focused on personal injury defense, commercial litigation and contractual disputes. In 2004, Mr. Kirk was elected as a partner at Querrey & Harrow, a position he held until his return to the State's Attorney's Office.
From 1997 to 2002, Kirk served as a Cook County Assistant State's Attorney with assignments in the Child Support Enforcement Division, Juvenile Justice Bureau, Narcotics Prosecutions Bureau and Criminal Prosecutions Bureau at 26th and California.
Kirk has been an active member of the Chicago Bar Association since 2002 and served as a member of the Board of Managers for a two year term from 2010 to 2012. Prior to his election to the Board, he served on the Judicial Evaluation Committee conducting investigations and hearings of all judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the Illinois Appellate Court and the Illinois Supreme Court.
He is a 2010 Fellow in Leadership Greater Chicago, volunteers for philanthropic development for Teen Living Programs and is the 2010 Recipient of the Richard J. Phelan Public Service Award given by the Chicago Bar Foundation. In 2011 he was selected as "40 Under 40" by the Chicago Law Bulletin Publishing Company as one of forty Chicago attorneys under 40 to watch.
Kirk is a graduate of Fenwick High School ( 1989 ), Eastern Illinois University ( B.A., 1993 ) and IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law ( J.D., 1996 ). He is a Chicago resident and lives in the Lakeview neighborhood.