By Staff
CASSOPOLIS - Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz Tuesday announced the hiring of Cara Hornbach, an attorney with past ties to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Hornbach will have initial responsibilities in the area of District Court and special investigations.
The Lansing native served with the Department of Justice as an honors paralegal during her two years between college and law school.
She was chosen from a highly competitive field to work for the Justice Department's Antitrust Division.
While serving with Justice, Hornbach gained valuable prosecution experience in white collar criminal investigations and documentary investigations.
Her exposure also included assisting in select FBI investigations.
Hornbach worked out of the department's Chicago office.
Cass County's newest assistant prosecutor received her undergraduate degree in 1999 from the University of Michigan, graduating with class honors and a 3.74 grade-point average.
She received her law school degree from Wayne State University School of Law in 2004.
During law school Hornbach also completed legal internships in the Oakland and Ingham counties prosecutor's offices.
While interning in the state capital, Horbach acquired favorable results in jury and bench trial work in District Court. She was also active in the criminal warrants and family court divisions.
Hornbach was also a member and chair of the Wayne State Law School Woman's Legal Caucus.
She started in Cass County Sept. 27. "She is working hard, as we expected," Fitz said. "Her references were strong and we are confident that she will serve the public well."
This latest addition to Fitz's office occurred when former assistant prosecutor David Moore took a position with the private law firm of Hettinger and Hettinger.
The prosecuting attorney's staff now includes Fitz, Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jason Ronning and assistants Leigh Rogner and Hornbach.
An assistant drug prosecutor will also join Fitz's office on Jan. 1, 2005, as a result of August's passage of the drug millage.