Schmidt prosecutor of year in Kane

Kane County Assistant State's Attorney Lori Schmidt recently was named the Prosecutor of the Year in the office's annual employee awards, while Sherrie Robotham, an administrative assistant in the Civil Division, was named Employee of the Year.

Schmidt, a Carol Stream native who joined the office in 2003, works out of the Children's Advocacy Center, which investigates and prosecutes sex crimes against children.

She helped secure numerous convictions and long prison terms for sexual predators in what State's Attorney Joe McMahon said can be complex and emotional cases.

"Lori's career has really been dedicated to standing up for young victims," said McMahon, noting she also worked as a paralegal in the Public Guardian's Office in Chicago.

Robotham, an employee since 1990, is an administrative assistant in the civil division who wears many hats: receptionist; typist; and transcriber and also is cheerful, helpful and conscientious. She lives in rural Kane County and has been honored by Heartland Blood Centers for her work and donations.

Andrew Whitfield, an assistant state's attorney who joined the office in 2007, won the Ace of Spades Award for felony cases, bringing nine felony cases to trial this year.

Whitfield, a Naperville native, also won the award in 2008.

Amy Ballard, an assistant state's attorney who joined the office in 2013, won the Ace of Spades Award for traffic and misdemeanor trials. She lives in Chicago.