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DuPage board asks staff to study switch from elected coroner to appointed medical examiner after members raise concerns
Summary
Following questions about coroner-office investigations and staffing, several DuPage County Board members asked staff to research what it would take—statutorily and procedurally—to convert the elected coroner position into an appointed medical examiner and to estimate budget and operational impacts; other members urged caution, noting such a change would remove an elected office.
Several DuPage County Board members on June 23 asked staff to research the legal, operational and budgetary steps needed to convert the county’s elected coroner office into an appointed medical examiner.
The request grew out of concerns raised at a recent Judicial and Public Safety meeting about investigatory practices and staffing in the coroner's office. One board member said it may be time to explore whether a medical examiner—an appointed, board-confirmed, licensed physician—would better serve the county’s needs. That proposed pathway would, under typical Illinois practice, require a board resolution and a referendum question for voters.
Why it matters: a medical examiner is generally a licensed physician and often board-certified in forensic pathology; a coroner is typically an elected public official and may not be required to hold a medical degree. Board members said the issue spans public confidence, statutory duties and potential budget changes because a medical examiner model can change how autopsies and investigations are managed and staffed.
What happened at the meeting: members asked county staff to return with a statutory summary, comparisons with neighboring counties, the steps and timeline for a referendum, and an estimate of fiscal impacts. A board member read excerpts of the coroner statute (Chapter 55 of the Illinois Compiled Statutes) noting that autopsies must be performed by licensed physicians and that coroners themselves do not perform autopsies unless they are a pathologist. Supporters of the study said an appointed medical examiner would allow the county to select a qualified leader and to replace leadership more quickly if needed; opponents cautioned that removing an elected office could be seen as overriding voters’ choices.
Board reaction and next steps: the chair said the board will collect the requested information and continue the discussion at a future meeting; members were split on whether they personally supported immediate action, but a majority supported staff research to inform a possible future decision or referendum.
Ending: staff were directed to gather statute language, data on how other counties handle coroner vs. medical examiner arrangements, budget implications, and any legal or procedural requirements for a referendum or resolution. The board did not vote to change the office at this meeting.
