MARY COLE has lived all of her life in Lake County. She was born and raised in Deerfield and graduated from Deerfield High School. Mary earned her undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University and her law degree from John Marshall Law School.

Mary started her career as a Domestic Violence Victim Advocate at the Williamson County State’s Attorney’s Office and worked for numerous Lake County judges as a judicial paralegal. After law school, she worked several years as a public defender in DeKalb County. Mary was sworn in as an Assistant State’s Attorney under Mike Nerheim in the Lake County State’s Attorney's office in 2019. She served there until 2021 before leaving the office in disgust after the current state’s attorney took over in Dec, 2020. 

Mary now is a partner at Brady Cole Trial Lawyers LLC, in Waukegan where she serves in private practice. 

Mary has received many prestigious awards during her career, including being named as a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 member and was named prosecutor of the year by the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM). 

Mary Cole is the Republican nominee for Lake County State's Attorney. She will restore dignity, accountability and safety to the office. Mary believes that justice is more than an end result; it’s how you are treated in the process. She knows an honest and aggressive approach is what it takes to win and she’s ready to fight for the residents of Lake County, protect your rights, and allow your voice to be heard. 

The election is November 5, 2024.