Kim Foxx replaces head of unit investigating wrongful convictions after pleas from incarcerated relatives

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx replaced the prosecutor who was heading the unit that reviews wrongful convictions one day after relatives of incarcerated persons in Chicago called on Foxx to investigate their loved ones’ cases.

Assistant State’s Attorney Nancy Adduci was replaced by Michelle Mbekeani, a legal and policy adviser who joined the office in 2018. The office also renamed the Conviction Integrity Unit to become the “Conviction Review Unit,” the office said in a news release.

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Adduci, who will remain on as deputy, came under scrutiny over the past year due to her prosecution of defendants who were accused of fatally shooting Chicago Police Officer Clifton Lewis in 2011, according to the Chicago Tribune. In June, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office dropped the charges against two of the three suspects amid accusations of police and prosecutor misconduct.

“The change reflects the office’s continued commitment to addressing historic inequities in the justice system and its ongoing mission to ensure fairness and integrity in the pursuit of justice,” the office said.

It is the second overhaul from Foxx since she took office, with the first resulting in the overturning of 250 cases, including 15 black men who were wrongfully convicted due to the misconduct of a former Chicago police officer, the release stated.

“The establishment of the Conviction Review Unit is not just a name change; it represents a shift in our approach towards rectifying the wrongs of the past, ensuring fairness in our justice system, and incorporating community voices in our decisions,” Foxx said.

The office said Mbekeani argued Illinois’s first prosecutor-initiated resentencing case that resulted in the early release of a person sentenced to 44 years in prison on a drug conviction.

“I am deeply honored to lead the Conviction Review Unit, a culmination of my life’s work thus far in criminal justice reform,” Mbekeani said. “My experiences, from advocating for wrongfully convicted individuals and their rights to initiating groundbreaking legislative reforms, have uniquely prepared me for this role. I am committed to upholding justice, addressing historical inequities, and ensuring that our legal system represents fairness and integrity for all.”

The revamping of the convictions unit comes the day after relatives of the incarcerated people gathered for a call for justice at the Leighton County Court Building. The crowd called on Foxx to reexamine their loved ones’ cases that were investigated by former Sgt. Brian Forberg, who retired in October.

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Forberg, who was one of the Chicago police’s highest-paid officers, has been named in numerous court documents accusing him of pressuring witnesses into false testimony. A number of the cases related to Forberg are now being investigated by special prosecutors. During his career, Forberg had 38 allegations made against him for misconduct.

Chicago has seen a rise in the level of allegations of police misconduct within the Chicago Police Department. Since the department entered the federal consent decree 4 1/2 years ago, its Bureau of Internal Affairs has launched more than 11,000 investigations into allegations of misconduct.