Lawyer 'Fearlessly Defends' Vulnerable Clients: St. Charles Hero

ST. CHARLES, IL — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented times. Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these everyday heroes.

This submission comes from Teri Wilson of St. Charles, who nominated Brian Wilson.

Where the nominee lives:
St. Charles

Name of the nominee:
Brian Wilson

Name of the person who nominated the hero:
Teri Wilson

Is the nominee considered an “essential worker”?:
Yes

What does the nominee do for work?:
Brian is a public defender in the state of Illinois. He works as an essential worker on the front lines in our jails and courtrooms defending the constitutional rights of clients.

Why do you believe the nominee should be recognized or honored?
Brian fearlessly defends his clients, many of whom are incarcerated. As the coronavirus spreads behind bars, Brian, like so many other public defenders across our state, put themselves on the line to ensure a fair judicial system experience for all despite the fact the Illinois jail system being reported as a coronavirus hotspot.

What’s one thing you want everyone to know about your hero?:
Brian’s favorite quote by Martin Luther King: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

All photos included in this post are owned by identified third parties who have given Patch the right to use explicitly for the Patch Local Heroes series.

>> Do YOU have a local hero you would like us to know about? Share their story here.