Combs new Crim. Div. Chief at SAO

The following press release was received today:

Louis A. Bianchi, McHenry County State’s Attorney, is pleased to announce that Assistant State’s Attorney Michael Combs has been promoted to Chief of the Criminal Division for the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, effective January 3, 2012. Michael Combs replaces Philip Hiscock who is leaving the State’s Attorney’s Office to pursue an opportunity with the Federal Government of the United States.

Combs is a seasoned felony prosecutor, who was previously assigned to the Special Prosecution Unit of the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office handling high profile cases and cases involving complex evidentiary issues. Combs was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1999, and was admitted by the Supreme Court of Illinois as a member of the Capital Litigation Trial Bar in 2007.

 Michael Combs is a 1996 graduate of Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and a 1999 graduate of New York Law School in New York, New York.     Prior to his arrival at the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, Combs served as First Assistant in the Ogle County State’s Attorney’s Office supervising and training attorneys and support staff.  He also served as team leader of the felony trial team in the Winnebago County State’s Attorney’s Office and acted as first chair in 35 jury trials, including four First Degree Murder trials that all resulted in convictions.  Combs also tried 40 jury trials as an Assistant Public Defender in the Winnebago County Public Defender’s Office.