Steven Richard Hunter

I have been a criminal defense attorney for almost my entire career, and it is a large part of who I am.  My wife is also a criminal defense attorney, and so are many of my close friends.  Needless to say, the the plight of people accused of crimes takes up much of my attention.  I passionately believe that most people accused of crimes in this country do not receive true justice, even the guilty.  Punishments are way out of hand, with prison or a lifetime criminal record destroying lives and exacting punishment far in excess of what is fair.

Part of my conviction comes from my religious beliefs.  My faith teaches me that everyone is worthy of forgiveness and a chance at redemption.  Another source of my world view is my observations of the poor.  I volunteer at a community shelter and I live in the City of Chicago.  It is absolutely clear to me that people of color are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, and I attribute that to racism.

I am also an avid jogger and fitness buff.   I have recently taken up using Wii fit, when my 8 year old daughter is not beating me at Wii tennis.  In additon, I enjoy reading books and rooting for the Cubs.