Michelle Mbekeani, ’14, to Lead Conviction Review Unit in Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office
Kim Foxx revamps Cook County wrongful conviction unit, names senior adviser as new head
State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, with little over a year left as Cook County’s top prosecutor, is revamping the office that handles wrongful conviction cases, one of the signature issues of her often embattled administration.
Since Foxx won election as a reform candidate in 2016, her office has overturned more than 200 cases based on allegations of misconduct or new evidence that cast doubt on convictions.
On Wednesday, her office announced a “rebranding” of the Conviction Integrity Unit, which she launched soon after taking office. It will now be called the Conviction Review Unit and will be headed by Michelle Mbekeani, a senior policy adviser to Foxx.
Foxx said in a statement that the new unit would “operate under the principle of participatory justice” by engaging with community members and criminal justice advocates.
“It represents a shift in our approach towards rectifying the wrongs of the past, ensuring fairness in our justice system, and incorporating community voices in our decisions,” Foxx said in the statement. “This move further symbolizes our promise to the people we serve that we will continue to review, rectify, and restore justice, especially in cases marred by historical injustices and misconduct.
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