Lauren A Freeman
In April 2017, Lauren retired from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office after a distinguished 30-year career during which she handled some of Chicago's highest-profile prosecutions. Lauren’s extensive prosecutorial and investigative review experience positions her as a valuable independent consultant for case assessment, consulting, and expert witness work in civil and criminal cases alleging prosecutorial misconduct.
During her first decade as an A.S.A., Lauren handled appeals, misdemeanors, domestic violence cases, felony review, preliminary hearings, grand jury investigations/indictments, narcotics prosecutions, sex crimes, child exploitation, and the gamut of felony cases, including first-degree murders. She litigated countless felony motions and trials in some of the busiest courtrooms in the country. The final 12 years of her career, she was assigned to the Special Prosecutions Bureau's Professional Standards Unit, focusing on the investigative review, indictment, and prosecution of law enforcement officers for alleged felony offenses and the use of excessive force. In addition, Lauren's unit reviewed all of the officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths that took place in Cook County. She conducted grand jury investigations, drafted indictments, reviewed forensic evidence, interviewed hundreds of witnesses and police officers, and assessed internal administrative investigations. She worked closely with numerous investigative agencies and police departments, requested additional investigation if needed, and drafted detailed charging memorandums, many of which were reviewed by the elected State's Attorneys.
Lauren brings 30 years of prosecutorial experience to the table. Throughout her entire career, she attended seminars discussing prosecutorial ethics. She understands Brady v. Arizona violations, Garrity v. New Jersey issues, prosecutorial immunity, and ABA best practices.
In January 2019, Lauren was selected to serve as a Hearing Officer for the Chicago Police Board where she presides over administrative proceedings involving the most serious police misconduct allegations. She is also a member of the NDAA, ABA, the CBA's Judicial Evaluation Committee, and the IL Prosecutors Bar Association.
- 1983 Litigation
- Criminal Law
- Jury/Trial Consultant
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: Retired (30 years of service) from Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Special Prosecutions Bureau;
JD, Loyola University of Chicago School of Law;
BA, The University of Michigan;
Certified Force Science Analyst, Force Science Research Institute. - Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: Member National District Attorney's Association;
Member American Bar Association, Civil Rights and Social Justice Division;
Member Chicago Bar Association, Judicial Evaluation Committee;
Illinois Prosecutors Bar Association;
Attended June, 2016 National Attorneys General Training Institute's (NAGTRI's) National Effective Practices and Protocols for Officer-involved Shootings Symposium.
- Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
- A: No
- Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Two; I began my practice in 2018.
- Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: 1) Review and assessment of prosecutorial conduct pursuant to a Section 1983 Monell claim; 2) Review and assessment of prosecutorial conduct involving alleged inflamatory extra-judicial statements made to the media by a county's elected prosecutor.
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
- A: 100%
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
- A: 0%
- Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
- A: Two as an expert witness and several as an Assistant State's Attorney.
- Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
- A: August, 2020
- Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
- A: None; I have only been retained for two cases since I began working as a consultant/expert in 2018.
- Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
- A: None; I have only been retained for two cases and neither proceeded to trial.
- Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
- A: I began my practice in February 2018.
- Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
- A: Case assessment and consultation, expert witness services, investigative assistance, and litigation support
- Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: $325 per hour (no charge for initial phone inquiry and initial discussion pertaining to retention terms). Rate is negotiable for smaller cases.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: $325 per hour. Rate is negotiable for smaller cases.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: $325 per hour (10 hour minimum per day) plus expenses. Hourly rate includes all breaks and waiting time and must be paid in advance, subject to cancellation agreement as specified in signed retention agreement. Rate is negotiable for smaller cases.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: $325 per hour (10 hour minimum per day) plus expenses. Hourly rate includes all breaks and waiting time and must be paid in advance, subject to cancellation agreement as specified in signed retention agreement. Rate is negotiable for smaller cases.
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: $3250 (10 hour) minimum initial non-refundable retainer paid in advance to be applied to hourly rate for initial case review and oral case assessment (amount depends on volume of materials requiring initial oral review). Retainer to be replenished periodically as needed and agreed upon with client prior to undertaking additional consulting/expert witness work to include further review of materials, topical research, report writing, and testimony. Finalized fees including travel and other expenses, to be specified in signed retention agreement. Rates are negotiable for smaller cases.
Available Upon Request