John Brown (right), winner of the Kissane Award, is congratulated by Paul Kissane (center), son of Elmer Kissane in whose memory the award was established, and John E. Lee, president of The John Marshall Law School Foundation.
John Brown, a 2006 graduate of The John Marshall Law School now serving with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, was recently presented the Elmer C. Kissane Award.
“Receiving the Kissane Award was quite an honor for me. I’m happy I could meet the qualifications. I had a first-hand look at public interest law while I was a student, and my career as an assistant state’s attorney has been everything I had hoped it would be,” said Brown.
Brown was presented with a $5,000 check. The monetary award is given after the Kissane winner serves at least a year in a state’s attorney’s office. The award is given by the Kissane family to a graduate of The John Marshall Law School who had a distinguished law school career and has a commitment to a career in a state’s attorney’s office. The award is given in memory of Elmer Kissane, a 1950 John Marshall graduate who worked for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for 43 years.
As a student, Brown had a judicial externship with Circuit Court of Cook County Judge Jesse Reyes. After he received the 7-11 license, Brown was a law clerk in both the Criminal Enforcement Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, as well as the Felony Criminal Trials Division of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Brown held to his commitment to public service and he accepted a position in January 2007 with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office. During his career, Brown has served in the Traffic Division, Misdemeanor Division, which includes a Domestic Battery courtroom, and now in the Felony Review Division.
“My job assignments have allowed me to move into the different divisions. Each office assignment has exposed me to new issues and given me a look at the law from a new perspective,” Brown explained.