Biography  

Charles Zalar

Mr. Zalar received a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Illinois in 1969 and his law degree from Illinois in 1972. He entered the private practice of law with the David F. Root law firm in Morris, Illinois in 1972. He was elected Grundy County State’s Attorney in 1976 and held that position until 1988, when he chose not to seek re-election. He maintained a private practice while serving as state’s attorney from 1976 until 1984, when the state’s attorney position became full time.

 

His private practice focused primarily on real estate law. He served on the Board of Commissioners of the old State’s Attorneys Appellate Service Commission, and its successor, the State’s Attorney’s Appellate Prosecutor from 1981 until 1988. He served on the Executive Committee of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association from 1980 to 1988, and was president of the Association in 1985. Chuck left the state’s attorney’s office in December, 1988 and joined the Appellate Prosecutor’s Office. He initially supervised legal contractual employees and worked on budgetary and legislative matters for the agency.

 

He represented the interests of state’s attorneys and law enforcement in the negotiations that led to the passage of the Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act. in 1990. Mr. Zalar began the agency’s special prosecution efforts in 1989 and is currently the Administrator of the unit, which has now grown to five attorneys.

 

He is a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar as first chair. He has handled cases in 87 of the 102 Illinois counties, and has handled the myriad of duties with which state’s attorneys are called upon to perform, from speeding to murder, to zoning, mandamus, real estate taxes and assessments, quo warranto and injunction matters. He has frequently spoken to state’s attorneys and law enforcement officials on issues relating to criminal law. Mr. Zalar was appointed to the position of General Counsel in 2009, and advises the Director on legal issues confronting the Agency. He is an avid duplicate bridge player and has attained the rank of Silver Life Master.