Senate confirms Glen Carbon Democrat as next U.S. Attorney for Southern Illinois

The U.S. Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed Rachelle L. Crowe to be the new U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois.

She will replace Steven Weinhoeft, who who has been a state and federal prosecutor in the metro-east since 1996. Crowe was not immediately available for comment.

U. S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois and chair of the Senate Judiciary committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth issued a joint statement on Crowe’s confirmation.

“We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Rachelle Crowe to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Illinois. After seven years without a confirmed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Ms .Crowe has the qualifications, integrity and judgment to serve without distinction,” it said.

President Joe Biden nominated Crowe on April 26.

Crowe, a Democrat from Glen Carbon, has served as state senator for the 56th District of Illinois since 2019. From 2008 to 2018, she was an assistant state’s attorney in Madison County, working in the violent crimes, general felony and Juvenile abuse units.

Crowe was previously an associate at three law firms including Carmody MacDonald P.C.; Rizeman Berger; and Hoagland, Fitzgerald Smith and Praintis.

She received her Juris Doctorate degree from Saint Louis University School of Law in 2000 and she received her B. A. from the University of Missouri in 1996.

Weinhoeft was appointed as the top federal prosecutor in the southern Illinois district in 2018 after having served in the U.S. Department of Justice for 10 years.

Weinhoeft said the U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to function at an extremely high level.

“Our important work will not be interrupted as we look forward to a smooth transition,” he said.