Our Analysis:
This article critiques the decision of the Cook County State Attorney’s office to not bring charges against five people arrested after a Chicago area shootout. Prosecutors claim that insufficient evidence exists to prove guilt, but Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot claims charges could have been brought. This article shows how no substantive checks or balances exist on a prosecutor’s discretion. Rather than bring lesser charges (like a weapon’s violation) against the assailants, Kim Foxx (the prosecutor) can unilaterally decide to not pursue any charges.