Joliet attorney chosen as new Will County public defender

A longtime attorney with a Joliet law firm has been chosen as the new public defender in Will County, the fourth most populous county in the state.

A longtime attorney with a Joliet law firm has been chosen as the new public defender in Will County , the fourth most populous county in the state. In a statement on Thursday, the circuit judges of Will County announced Kristine M. Honiotes will replace Michael J. Renzi as Will County public defender on November 1. Last February, Will County Chief Judge Dan Kennedy’s Office announced Renzi would retire as the public defender on Oct. 31.

“I congratulate Kristine on her selection as Will County public defender. She brings a wealth of talent and experience to her new role,” Kennedy said. Kennedy said Honiotes will provide “outstanding representation for her clients and will serve as an excellent leader for the public defender staff.”

Honiotes received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in 2002 and juris doctorate degree from DePaul University College of Law in 2005. Honiotes worked as an assistant public defender in Will County from 2006 to 2015. Honiotes has been in private practice since that time.

She owns the law firm Honiotes Law Office in Joliet. Honiotes’ practice has focused on criminal, traffic and driving under the influence cases in Will, DuPage , Cook , Kane and other counties, according to the website for her law firm. Honiotes was assigned as one of two assistant public defenders in the Will County Drug Court Program for eight years.

Honiotes helped develop the Heroin Relapse and Prevention Protocol through collaboration with the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office and the court, according to her law firm. She was a developing team member for the Will County Veteran’s and Service Member’s Court as well as the Adult Redeploy Illinois Specialty Court, according to her law firm. Honiotes has served as a president of the Will County Women’s Bar Association, as well as in leadership positions with the Will County and Illinois State Bar Associations.

Honiotes was president of the Joliet Junior Woman’s Club between 2016 and 2017, and has been involved in Mentor 2.0 with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.