* Patricia Manson at the Chicago Law Bulletin…
An attorney who represented former Illinois Gov. George H. Ryan in a bid to overturn his corruption conviction contends his client was the victim of lies told by Judge Frank H. Easterbrook of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
In a law review article posted online last week, Albert W. Alschuler blasted Easterbrook’s use of “wildly inaccurate, made-up statements” as well as his “abusive demeanor on the bench.”
Easterbrook made eight falsehoods in court and in written opinions issued in Ryan’s unsuccessful collateral attack on his mail fraud and racketeering convictions, Aschuler alleged.
“By falsehoods, I do not mean minor misunderstandings or misinterpretations; I mean whoppers,” he wrote in an article published Thursday on the Valparaiso University Law Review’s website.
The full article, entitled “How Frank Easterbrook kept George Ryan in prison,” is here.
- Amalia - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:45 pm:
and the higher court said what?
- AlfondoGonz - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:45 pm:
As we see far too often, Aschuler impeaches his own valid points with bombastic hyperbole. Valpo Law Review should be embarrassed to have published this piece.
- the old man - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 2:48 pm:
share them with us
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 3:07 pm:
I am aware of a number of cases that Easterbrook tainted the record. It’s no secret that he became very mean spirited after he obviously was never going to be nominated for the Supreme Court. Even though it is suppose to be a blind draw he always seemed to be assigned the most sensitive or political appeals . While he was chief judge he was constantly in the middle of all big cases. Regardless of ones opinion on George Ryan this might have merit .
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 3:12 pm:
Doesn’t surprise me in the least to find out it is true. Judges basically can do whatever they want in Illinois until someone calls them on it.
- Sue - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 3:16 pm:
Just read the law review article. Being familiar with the case authorities and in light of the transcripts cited it seems that a miscarriage of Justice occurred. Too bad for Ryan his name wasn’t Hilary Clinton
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
Alschuler and Easterbrook have known each other for several decades. They do not like each other.
- the red baron - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 3:48 pm:
I am not sure but I believe Easterbrook was involved in Ryan, Blago and Vrdolyak appeals.
If I am right that alone would seem fishy on the surface. All cases are supposed to be chosen randomly and lets hope are Chief Judge wasn’t tainting the system. Somebody should do a search of high profile cases and see how many he was assigned while serving as Chief Judge.
- Sue - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 3:49 pm:
Amin- and how does that make any difference. Read the hearing transcripts-Easterbrook looks to have gone off the reservation
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 3:51 pm:
Appellate judges do this all the time. Not much you can do about it except try to get a higher court to grant review. But the higher court often accepts the factual misconstruction of the lower appellate court and denies the relief …
- walker - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 4:42 pm:
Not sure it’s okay to make specific malfeasance claims about a named judge, while hiding behind “Anonymous.”
At least these attys personally stood up for their critiques.
- First born of many - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 5:24 pm:
Ive been in front of Easterbrook and this law review is spot on…
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 5:56 pm:
Posner makes up facts and mocks attorneys too. Two self-impressed but not very good judges.
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 6:35 pm:
Ryan led an office that gave unqualified drivers licenses as part of a pattern of corruption. As a result, people died.
Those are questions of fact determined at trial.
Did the Appellate Judge change those facts?
I know from personal involvement in one case that not all the damage done was included in the charges. From where I sit, justice was done.
- Keyrock - Monday, Jul 25, 16 @ 7:24 pm:
The Chicago Council of Lawyers evaluation quoted in the article is now a bit dated, but it remains the best description of Judges Easterbrook and Posner by practicing lawyers:
http://via.library.depaul.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1869&context=law-review
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