Michael Howie

LAKE COUNTY — Jack Crawford, former Lake County prosecutor and longtime defense attorney, died Wednesday. He was 77.

In a statement Friday, Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter called Crawford a "trailblazing prosecutor," "tremendous mentor and friend."

"Lake County has lost a legal giant, but Jack’s legacy lives on in the many prosecutors, judges and attorneys he mentored over the years," Carter said. "My deepest condolences go out to his family and loved ones during this time."

Crawford served as Lake County's lead prosecutor for 10 years beginning in 1978. In that time, he prosecuted hundreds of cases before moving to Indianapolis, where he worked as a defense attorney for decades.

Crawford graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1970 and earned his law degree

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