Opinion ID: 181935
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Christine Opp

Text: Appellant Opp began working for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office as an Assistant State's Attorney in January 1997. Opp's final position during this employment was as the supervisor of the Preliminary Hearings Courtroom and as the first chair for the Sixth District overflow felony courtroom. Opp had consistently received qualified or highly qualified performance evaluation ratings. In response to budget reductions in December 2006, Cook County State's Attorney Richard Devine sent out a memorandum informing Assistant State's Attorneys that if personnel cuts became necessary, the cuts would be based on performance evaluations. On February 16, 2007, Opp was informed that her employment was being terminated. The reason given was for the future needs of the office. Opp's complaint stated that she was fifty-seven years old at the time of her termination and the oldest employee assigned to the Sixth District. She was also the only employee from that District whose employment was terminated during February 2007. Opp's complaint stated that she was replaced by an individual substantially younger. Opp claimed that she was terminated because of her age.