Biography  

Robert Berlin

On December 14, 2010, Robert B. Berlin was appointed DuPage County State’s Attorney to complete the unexpired term of Joseph Birkett. In 2012, 2016, and 2020, Mr. Berlin was elected to full four-year terms as DuPage County State’s Attorney.

 

A career prosecutor, Mr. Berlin began his career in 1987 as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County. During his tenure in Cook County, Mr. Berlin’s assignments included the criminal appeals, misdemeanor, felony review, homicide-sexual assault preliminary hearing, child exploitation, and felony trial divisions. In 2001, Mr. Berlin left the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office opting to continue his career as First Assistant State’s Attorney for the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office. As First Assistant State’s Attorney, Mr. Berlin managed and supervised the entire Office staff of more than 140 lawyers and support staff. While in Kane County, Mr. Berlin developed and implemented new policies including the Community Prosecutions and Felony Review Unit. Mr. Berlin also served as Chief of the Priority Prosecutions Unit. In 2004, Mr. Berlin began working for the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office as Deputy Chief of the Office’s Juvenile Division. During the next several years, Mr. Berlin was promoted to Deputy Chief of the Felony Trial Division and in April 2010, Chief of the Criminal Bureau where he supervised all Assistant State’s Attorneys charged with the criminal prosecutions function of the Office.

 

In his thirty-plus-year career as a prosecutor, Mr. Berlin has tried nearly ninety felony jury trials, 55 of which involved first degree murder. Mr. Berlin has also tried hundreds of felony bench trials, including more than 50 homicide cases.

 

Mr. Berlin has earned numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. In 2013, the Illinois State Crime Commission awarded Mr. Berlin with the State’s Attorney of the Year Award. In 2012, Mr. Berlin was recognized by

 

the National Gang Crime Research Center with the organization’s Frederick Milton Thrasher Award for his accomplishments in gang prosecutions. In 2011, Mr. Berlin was awarded the Education Center’s “Making a Difference Award” for his educational efforts and projects that help children become productive citizens. Mr. Berlin was also awarded the Association of Government Attorneys in Capital Litigation Board of Directors’ Trial Award in 2003 and the Kane County Outstanding Prosecutor Award in 2004.

 

Mr. Berlin is a member of the DuPage County Bar Association as well as the DuPage County Felony Investigative Assistance Team. He is a frequent lecturer on a variety of criminal justice issues and has participated in numerous heroin education forums throughout DuPage County.

 

Mr. Berlin was elected to the Board of Governors in July 2020.

 

Mr. Berlin was raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago and is a graduate of Dickinson College and Washington University School of Law. Mr. Berlin resides with his wife and two daughters in Downers Grove.