Aaron Goldstein

Name: Aaron Goldstein

Age: 43

Party: Democratic

Current residence: Chicago

Current position: Attorney supervisor, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender (currently on leave)

Past legal experience: Cook County assistant public defender, 2001-07, 2015-present. Approximately seven years in private practice.

Campaign funds available, July 1 to Dec. 31: $236,746.37

Campaign funds spent, July 1 to Dec. 31: $29,786.47

Law school: University of Iowa College of Law, 2000

Campaign website: ag4ag.org

Family: Married with two daughters

Hobbies/interests: I’ve run four marathons, and I still run (when I have time).

What would you consider your greatest career accomplishment?

My greatest legal accomplishment is standing up for the countless individuals who have been failed by the system and achieving real results for them. Whether it was winning acquittals for clients accused of crimes or achieving justice for clients whose civil rights have been violated. My greatest political accomplishment was defeating a 40-year machine politician when no one thought it was possible and starting a movement against the machine and for reforming our political system.

Why should voters support your candidacy?

I am the only true progressive in this race and have a bold progressive agenda that has not been seen from the Attorney General’s Office. I have spent my career representing people who have hit hard times. I understand what needs to happen to achieve real criminal justice reform because I’ve worked in the system my whole career. I am not taking money from big corporations or special interests so I will be able to exercise the independence necessary for the office.

What would be your top priority as attorney general?

My top priority will be to be a proactive attorney general. As attorney general I will execute a bold progressive agenda that fights for all Illinoisans. I will stand up to the powerful interests — big banks, corporations and President Trump. I will achieve real criminal justice reform–ending mass incarceration, the drug war, and cash bail. We will also ensure that the Chicago Police Department will be monitored by a federal judge, that the community is involved and they have enforcement power. Finally, I will fight government corruption that is plaguing our communities every day.

Regarding the ongoing consent decree talks with the Chicago Police Department, what policies or measures do you view as being necessary for the department to adopt?

I support a consent decree and believe that the community must be involved and have enforcement power over the consent decree. The Chicago Police Department must adopt extensive policies (and strengthen current existent policies) and train their officers on use of force, de-escalation tactics, cultural, racial, religious, and LGBTQ sensitivity training, and adopt stronger police-involved shooting protocols that gets to the truth and doesn’t just protect the officer. There must be negotiations with the police union to end the code of silence that permeates throughout the department as well as stronger protections for officers who report bad actors and stiffer penalties for those who commit bad acts or fail to report bad actors.

How do you view the attorney general’s role in conjunction with the federal government?

The attorney general of the state of Illinois is the attorney for the people of the state of Illinois. As attorney general, I will defend the people of the state of Illinois and the constitutions of the United States and Illinois as well as the laws of the state. If the federal government violates the law or the constitution or puts the people of Illinois in danger, then I, as attorney general, will take action. The attorney general has no obligation to support or enforce any policy of the Trump Administration. The duty of the attorney general is to enforce the law, and most importantly the constitutions of the United States and Illinois. If the Trump Administration makes an executive order or some policy that violates the Constitution, it is my duty as attorney general to go to court and challenge that action. For example, the Muslim ban should be challenged because it is a clear violation of federal law and the Constitution. Sanctuary cities and states are frequently debated and any city as well as the state can choose to not use local resources to enforce a federal enforcement priority. As attorney general I will go to court to defend a city or the state’s decision to prioritize their resources how they see fit as long as it complies with the law and the Constitution. Finally, when the Trump Administration refuses to enforce environmental protection laws and regulations (or other regulations), I will step in and fill that void.

Do you believe state employees should be paid absent an appropriation? Under the current laws of the state, would you go to court to block their pay if they continued receiving checks absent a budget?

State employees should be paid absent an appropriation. I would not go to court to block their pay if they continued receiving checks absent a budget.