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The Chicago Reader

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News & Politics, Feature Jan 14, 2021
Eviction court judge slams moratorium as ‘utter idiocy.’ It’s not on the record.

Cook County let eviction court go unrecorded for six months.
- By Maya Dukmasova
- Tags: Feature, Eviction court, eviction moratorium, evictions, judicial bias, Chief Judge Timothy Evans, Office of the Chief Judge, Martin Moltz, Sondra Denmark, David Skryd, Judge James Wright, pandemic, COVID-19, Malcolm Rich, Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, Michelle Gilbert, Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, Illinois Supreme Court, Cook County circuit court

News & Politics, Back Room Deal Mar 2, 2020
You be the judge: A new Supreme Court justice and other votes for the bench
- By Maya Dukmasova and Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Back Room Deal, judges, judicial elections, Illinois Supreme Court, 2020 Illinois general primary election, 2020 primary elections

News & Politics, News May 23, 2019
Civic engagement doesn’t die in prison

A state bill outlines an education program for those about to be released.
- By Christian Belanger
- Tags: News, civic education, prison, reform, death sentence, Illinois supreme court

News & Politics, Feature May 24, 2018
Hundreds of Illinois prisoners languish behind bars waiting for Dorothy Brown to do her job

The court clerk lost the records of James Allen, who's fighting to overturn convictions that put him in prison 30 years ago. His case is not unique.
- By Maya Dukmasova
- Tags: Feature, james allen, chicago police, cook county, circuit court of cook county, dorothy brown, pontiac correctional center, tamms, carl gibson, robert ciralski, hyde park, richard m. daley, nocholas ford, illinois supreme court, steven becker, office of the state appellate defender, cicero, patricia mysza, jalyne strong-shaw, records storage center, larry gibson, tyrone oby, washington park, oliver singleton, ged, people's law office, illinois prisoner review board, jeffrey haas, national conference of black lawyers community college of law, charles ashley, michael pochordo, chicago skyway, willie "flukey" stokes, franklin freeman, darryl moore, uptown, better government association, alan goldberg, toni preckwinkle, records storage and digital imaging center, mississippi

Blogs, Bleader Sep 22, 2017
Video
Drew Peterson murder conviction upheld by Illinois Supreme Court, and other Chicago news

Also, the son of the Chicago Housing Authority's CEO was arrested in connection with an alleged murder.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, Illinois, Drew Peterson, Illinois Supreme Court, Kathleen Savio, Stacy Peterson, Rahm Emanuel, Amazon, Jeff Bezos, Chicago Housing Authority, Eugene Jones, Eugene Jones Jr., Indianapolis, Puerto Rico, GoFundMe, Rene Rivera, Mariel Perez, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Irma, Takashi Murakami, David Bowie, Museum of Contemporary Art, Video

Blogs, Bleader Apr 5, 2017
Video
CPD will continue with police reforms recommended by the DOJ despite review by Sessions, and other Chicago news

Also, anxiety about deportation is hurting businesses in Little Village.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Chicago, Rahm Emanuel, Chicago Police Department, Eddie Johnson, police issues, Department of Justice, Barack Obama, Jeff Sessions, police reform, restaurants, immigration issues, Little Village Chamber of Commerce, Pope Francis, gun violence, gang violence, Blase Cupich, Catholic Church, Illinois Supreme Court, Bruce Rauner, Celinez Nunez, Chance the Rapper, Video

Blogs, Bleader Nov 30, 2016
Alderman Ameya Pawar is considering running a ‘progressive campaign’ for governor in 2018, and other Chicago news

Also, Illinois Supreme Court justice Anne Burke wants to add a fifth star to the Chicago flag—for a charity she cofounded.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, Ameya Pawar, 47th Ward, 2018 gubernatorial election, Bruce Rauner, Chicago City Council, Progressive Reform Caucus, Illinois Supreme Court, Anne Burke, Ed Burke, Special Olympics, Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Supreme Court, nepotism, Large Lots Program, Chicago history, GLBTQ issues, interracial marriage, Jack Johnson, the Mann Act, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, MCA, Jason Hammel, Lula Cafe, Chris Ofili, Madeline Grynsztejn, Pedro y Juana, MCA renovation

News & Politics, Feature Nov 16, 2016
No-show cops and dysfunctional courts keep Cook County Jail inmates waiting years for a trial

Chicago police missed more than 11,000 court dates since 2010, causing months or years of unnecessary delays for inmates awaiting trial.
- By Spencer Woodman
- Tags: Feature, News, Cook County Jail, Cook County criminal courts, criminal justice, pretrial detention, Jermaine Robinson, Chicago Police Department, Cook County state’s attorney’s office, Sixth Amendment, speedy trial, Kalief Browder, Rikers Island, Cook County circuit court, Timothy Evans, Cook County sheriff’s office, Anthony Bruno, U.S. Department of Justice, University of Chicago Police Department, Chante Johnson, Michael J. Malinowski, Kermit Leaks, Johnny Quinones, Illinois State Police, Matt Boerwinkle, Timothy Hooper, Cook County office of the public defender, Peter Coolsen, LeRoy Martin, Chicago Community Bond Fund, Illinois supreme court, Chicago Appleseed Foundation, Pat Milhizer, Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve

Blogs, Bleader Jul 7, 2016
Late legal luminary Abner Mikva urged Illinois to seek justice, not revenge

Listening to the former state congressman unpack his personal evolution around the topic of criminal justice was captivating.
- By Meribah Knight
- Tags: News, Criminal Justice, Abner Mikva, Adolfo Davis, Illinois Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court, criminal justice, juvenile justice, Cook County, Julie Anderson, Cynthia Morfin, James McKay

Blogs, Bleader Mar 31, 2016
Chicago State University tells employees to turn in their keys, and other news

Also, Drew Peterson is back: Illinois Supreme Court agrees to hear the disgraced former cop's murder conviction appeal.
- By Kate Shepherd
- Tags: News, Did You Read __________?, winter weather, spring weather, Chicago State University, Illinois budget, Bruce Rauner, Karen Lewis, Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago Public Schools, Drew Peterson, Illinois Supreme Court, Bolingbrook, Will County, James Glasgow, Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks, Stanley Cup playoffs, Jeanne Gang, Wanda Vista Tower, construction

Blogs, Bleader Jun 15, 2015
Is state's attorney Anita Alvarez protecting public safety—or an obstacle to justice?

The race to be Cook County's top prosecutor gets under way with questions about fairness and incarceration.
- By Mick Dumke
- Tags: Crime, The Reefer, Politics, News, 2016 election, Anita Alvarez, bail, bond, bond court, cannabis, cocaine, Cook County, crime, Donna More, drugs, heroin, homicides, Illinois Supreme Court, incarceration, jail, John Fritchey, Kim Foxx, marijuana, poverty, prosecutor, race, Sally Daly, shootings, state's attorney, Tom Dart, Toni Preckwinkle, violence

Blogs, Bleader May 8, 2015
Is Mike Madigan our only line of defense against Governor Rauner?

In the resistance to Governor Rauner's budget cuts and union bashing, it looks like Speaker Madigan might be our only hope.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Politics, News, Paul Green, Michael Madigan, Bruce Rauner, Rahm Emanuel, Shaft in Africa, Howard Theater, Hideout, Mick Dumke, Illinois Supreme Court, pensions, Boone's Farm Apple wine, Roosevelt University, Mary Ann Ahern, Charles Thomas

Columns & Opinion, On Culture Jan 20, 2015
What's safe under Illinois's new eavesdropping law?

In the era of Ferguson and "I can't breathe," can Illinois citizens now record police officers in action?
- By Deanna Isaacs
- Tags: Deanna Isaacs on Culture, Governor Pat Quinn, Chris Drew, Chicago Police Department, street art, surveillance, Illinois Supreme Court, Nancy Bechtol, ACLU, Edwin C. Yohnka, Ferguson, Missouri, Elaine Nekritz, Free Speech and the Transcendent Journey of Chris Drew, Revolution Books, Mark Weinberg

Blogs, Bleader Jul 23, 2014
Why would Bruce Rauner want to buy the governor's mansion?

A shrewd businessman would know the leaky manor house is a fixer-upper.
- By Steve Bogira
- Tags: $$$, Politics, News, Bruce Rauner, Pat Quinn, Illinois governor's race, Illinois governor's mansion, pension liability, Illinois Supreme Court, income tax, property tax

Columns & Opinion, On Culture Apr 15, 2014
What will be the legacy of street artist Chris Drew?

The eavesdropping law that got him slapped with a felony charge has been ruled unconstitutional, but the city's strict peddling regulations remain on the books.
- By Deanna Isaacs
- Tags: On Culture, Chris Drew, Nancy Bechtol, artists, documentaries, Native Americans, American Indian Center, Uptown Multi-Cultural Art Center, art, Puppet Bike, lawyers, peddler's licenses, street vendors, permits, Chicago Cultural Center, civil disobedience, eavesdropping laws, Mark Weinberg, Joshua Kutnick, Illinois Supreme Court

Columns & Opinion, On Politics Oct 29, 2013
The latest reminder of how Mayor Daley did business

The fight over the Park Grill deal shows some insiders have more clout than others.
- By Ben Joravsky
- Tags: On Politics, Chicago Park District, Chicago Sun-Times, clout, concessions, Cook County assessor, depositions, Illinois Supreme Court, James Thompson, Jim Horan, Jim Houlihan, Laura Foxgrover, leases, Matthew O'Malley, Millennium Park, Park Grill, parking meter deal, parking meter lease deal, Rahm Emanuel, Richard M. Daley, taxes, Tim Novak, U.S. Cellular Field, White Sox

Blogs, Bleader Oct 21, 2013
Chief judge: Court problems could be solved if other officials understood civics the way I do

The bail and jail system may be a mess, but at least Timothy Evans understands the separation of powers.
- By Mick Dumke
- Tags: Crime, Politics, News, Cook County, bond court, Timothy Evans, chief judge, Cook County Circuit Court, Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County board, Tom Dart, sheriff, Illinois Supreme Court, Cook County jail, bonds, bail

News & Politics, Feature Oct 16, 2013
Do we have the right people locked up?

How a medieval court system is costing you money—and compromising safety
- By Mick Dumke
- Tags: Feature, 60 Minutes, A.C. Cunningham, aggravated battery, Anita Alvarez, arrests, attempted murder, attorneys, bail, bond court, bond hearings, bonds, books, Boss Pimps, Brad Jett, Byron Champ, Calumet Heights, cannabis, Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Sun-Times, Cook County, Cook County commissioners, Cook County jail, CPD, crime, David Olson, Dominique Nong, drug offences, drug offenses, electronic monitoring, Fabio Valentini, firearms offences, gangs, Gangster Disciples, gun crimes, guns, handguns, heroin, home confinement, Illinois state law, Illinois Supreme Court, incarceration, jail, John Fritchey, judges, Kewane Gatewood, Laura Sullivan, law students, Loyola University, marijuana, mental health, monetary bonds, neighborhoods, New York City, Northwestern University, Northwestern University Law School, Patrick Reardon, policing, pretrial investigators, prior convictions, prison inmates, prison population, prisons, prosecutors, public defenders, race, Richard M. Daley, shoplifting, Steve Bogira, Tabari Young, Thomas Kilbride, Timothy Evans, Tom Dart, violating probation, violence, Washington, DC, William P. Murphy

Blogs, Bleader Mar 5, 2013
Illinois's FOIA—should state's attorneys be exempt?

Should Illinois's state's attorneys be immune from Freedom of Information Act requests?
- By Michael Miner
- Tags: Media, News, Illinois state senator Kwame Raoul, Illinois Freedom of Information Act, Illinois Press Association, Josh Sharp, Illinois Constitution Article VI, Illinois State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, Matt Jones, Jim Baltzer, Illinois Supreme Court, Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board, Justice Bob Thomas, Attorney General Lisa Madigan

Blogs, Bleader Mar 21, 2012
The voters strike again

A roundup of the 2012 primary election results
- By Mick Dumke
- Tags: Politics, Clout City, News, Rahm Emanuel, Toni Preckwinkle, Tammy Duckworth, Joe Walsh, Eighth congressional district, Illinois Supreme Court, Mary Jane Theis, Barack Obama, Cook County circuit court clerk, Rick Munoz, Ricardo Munoz, Dorothy Brown, Joe Berrios, Toni Berrios, Will Guzzardi, Christian Mitchell, 26th Illinois house district, 39th Illinois house district, Jesse White, Derrick Smith, Tenth Illinois house district

News & Politics, Politics Mar 14, 2012
What's really going on in the primary elections

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County board president Toni Preckwinkle aren’t up for election. But they’re out to win.
- By Mick Dumke and Ben Joravsky
- Tags: Politics, Cook County Clerk, elections, Anita Alvarez, Rahm Emanuel, Toni Preckwinkle, Illinois Supreme Court, Eighth Congressional Race

Blogs, Bleader Jan 23, 2012
Oh, to have those fighting independents back

In city council meetings, Chicago's mayor once had to contend with a fierce opposition
- By Steve Bogira
- Tags: Alderman Week, Politics, Clout City, Variations on a Theme, Chicago aldermen, Chicago City Council, Mayor Richard J. Daley, Mayor Richard M. Daley, Chicago Tribune, grand jury investigation, Joseph Potempa, extortion, Leon Despres, Bill Singer, Thomas Keane, mail fraud, conspiracy, Seymour Simon, Illinois Supreme Court, Dick Simpson, Chicago Cubs, Ed Vrdolyak, fraud, jujitsu

Blogs, Bleader Dec 15, 2011
A financial exchange

CME needed the big tax break it just got, because it has so many hungry pols to feed.
- By Steve Bogira
- Tags: Money, Politics, News, $$$, Clout City, Variations on a Theme, CME Group Inc., Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Board Options Exchange, financial exchanges, tax breaks, Rahm Emanuel, Mike Madigan, Pat Quinn, Ed Burke, Lisa Madigan, Anne Burke, Illinois supreme court, bribes, Richard M. Daley, Ben Joravsky, political action committees, congressional candidates

Blogs, Bleader Dec 5, 2011
The Park Grill scandal: One for the ages

The twisted tale behind the city's new lawsuit against Park Grill and the Chicago Park District
- By Kate Schmidt
- Tags: Food Chain, Politics, Food & Drink, Clout City, Ben Joravsky, Park Grill, Millennium Park, Chicago Park District, Matthew O'Malley, Laura Foxgrover, Chicago Firehouse, James Horan, Fran Spielman, Chicago Sun-Times, Mayor Richard J. Daley, James Houlihan, Illinois Supreme Court, Levy Restaurants, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, cronyism, clout

Blogs, Bleader Oct 6, 2011
State Supreme Court rules for Stubhub

Tickets resold online are not subject to the entertainment tax Chicago was requiring, the Court ruled Thursday.
- By Sarah Louise Klose
- Tags: News, Stubhub, tickets, Illinois Supreme Court, entertainment tax

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