* Tom Schuba at the Sun-Times…
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx said she is still on track to begin wiping clean thousands of minor cannabis convictions in the coming months, but acknowledges that her office is still trying to determine how exactly to implement her bold plan.
She also said in an interview with the Sun-Times last week that her office was also taking a look at her office policy toward prosecuting those arrested for the sale of marijuana, but said the review was still in its early stages. […]
Noting the arduous process of cataloguing years of convictions, Foxx told the Sun-Times that her office won’t attempt to expunge them all in one fell swoop. Nevertheless, the state’s attorney’s office hopes to start clearing the first round of convictions in a matter of months, she said.
Foxx said her office is seeking to enlist a nonprofit, Code For America, which has already assisted with expungements in California.
* Speaking of Foxx, here’s Comptroller Mendoza…
I am disappointed that “Quarters” Boyle received no jail time after he recklessly caused a 4-car accident two years ago. I went to every court hearing over the past two years to make sure these charges against Boyle did not get dropped. I would have preferred the Cook County State’s Attorney upgrade the charges from the misdemeanors Boyle essentially chose for himself when he finally turned himself in, cleaned up and sober, three days after he caused the accident and fled the scene. I turned over the video to police which showed Boyle staggering around; driving his car into one of his victims who was trying to keep him at the scene. The video showed Boyle falsely claiming to be a police officer. But even with the video, the State’s Attorney’s office never charged Boyle with DUI, reckless driving, battery or with impersonating a police officer. His conviction today for fleeing the scene is better than nothing. But the innocent drivers in those cars he hit deserved more justice.
* Other stuff…
* How legalized pot can help heal wounds inflicted on black and brown communities: Legal adult cannabis use won’t necessarily lead to fewer arrests of black and brown people for cannabis related offenses — Hailey and Childress are right about that. In Colorado, the first state to legalize adult cannabis use, black folks still are arrested for cannabis-related offenses three times more than whites. But rather than blame cannabis for these disparities, we should look at a deeper cause: Racial bias in the criminal justice system.
* Venom directed at Kim Foxx is about taking down an African American reformer: Her law enforcement critics, mostly white men, say Foxx is soft on criminals and an enemy of the police.
* Making the argument for cops on the street, not in schools: The video, obtained by the Sun-Times, flatly contradicts the two officers’ account of what happened during the January incident at Marshall High School. They claim that 16-year-old Dnigma Howard kicked and bit them as they tried to escort her out of the school. They also say they fell down a flight of stairs.
- wordslinger - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 2:47 pm:
Why didn’t the SA throw the book at Boyle?
Does she wish to exchange bad publicity on Smollett for bad publicity on Boyle?
That’s not really sound strategery.
- BC - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 2:49 pm:
Didn’t see the news on Quarters Boyle. BTW, there’s the path to defeating Kim Foxx…argue she’s going easy on the rich and clout-heavy and not prosecuting government corruption. The old-fashioned law-and-order attacks from the FOP and police chiefs won’t work.
- DuPage Saint - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 2:50 pm:
It should be made as easy as possible to expunge old marijuana arrests and convictions but I think the person convicted should come forward maybe dedicate a court room for it. Otherwise I think state would be wasting lots of time. How far back is she going to the 60s? She might be expunging dead people. Some who have cases expunged may not even know it happened. Does she have to tell people? Is it even legal? Can’t the state police and police object? They have to be notified.
As to her being picked in because of her race I am sure that is out there but sometimes she acts more like a Public Defender than prosecutor. See Mendoza comments
- jim - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 3:02 pm:
Quarters has clout.
- Amalia - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 3:06 pm:
Foxx is a terrible SA. from lying about her trial experience (juvy is not Felony Trial Div Kim) to not having an actual live law license when she first announced for State’s Attorney, to the report that her ethics officer is fleeing the ship, let the choices for a new SA begin. Joe Ferguson is thinking about it. Tom Dart has thought about it so often we may not take him seriously if he declares. those who put her up, tell her to give it up. she’s a train wreck.
- TominChicago - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 3:27 pm:
Just who does Quarters have pictures of?
- Fax Machine - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 3:36 pm:
Rumor I heard is that former Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin is thinking about a run for State’s Attorney.
- Interested observer - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 3:48 pm:
I have been disappointed in Foxx’s tenure, and I don’t know enough about the facts of the Boyle case to have an opinion if it was handled correctly or not. Nevertheless, I think it’s unseemly that Mendoza thought she could influence the judicial process by going to “every court hearing over the past two years to make sure these charges against Boyle did not get dropped.” Regardless of the case’s outcome, this is unbecoming behavior by an elected official.
- blogman - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 4:00 pm:
Expungement of convictions is not allowed by law. Courts expunge dismissals and court supervisions after a lawful petition is filed. Who gives the State’s Attorney the authority to expunge anything, let alone a conviction which is a court order? I just don’t understand.
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 4:12 pm:
I expect that most of the convictions are the result of plea deals where the original charge was much greater. Does the expungement process consider the original charge and other convictions?
Are we releasing coyotes that we have labeled foxes?
- NorthsideNoMore - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 4:12 pm:
Someone get him back in court and ask Quarters “where’s the money ?” The guy never paid back the dough he purloined fron the tollway. He is a menace to the community.
- Ron Burgundy - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 4:15 pm:
No Mendoza fan, but please explain how it is unbecoming and unseemly for an eyewitness to a crime who happens to be a public official to want to see justice done? I find Mr. Boyle’s blatant disregard for the law far more unseemly.
- Quizzical - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 4:16 pm:
Interested Observer — she followed the case as a witness who recorded damning video of the incident. Not as an elected official pursuing a vendetta.
https://youtu.be/OH-gRkz_jEA
- Smalls - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 4:17 pm:
@Interested Observer, it wasn’t that Mendoza had some ax to grind with Boyle or wanted to influence the judicial process. She was a bystander to the accident and recorded him leaving the scene. Without her, he may have gotten off completely. And as a citizen, she had every right to show up to make sure he was given the punishment he deserved, just as any of us do.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 4:23 pm:
Interested Observer - I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that you missed this when it happened. Here’s the Kass column on the incident.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/kass/ct-susana-mendoza-quarters-boyle-met-0917-20170915-column.html
- Powdered Whig - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 4:55 pm:
=== I have been disappointed in Foxx’s tenure, and I don’t know enough about the facts of the Boyle case to have an opinion if it was handled correctly or not. Nevertheless, I think it’s unseemly that Mendoza thought she could influence the judicial process by going to “every court hearing over the past two years to make sure these charges against Boyle did not get dropped.” Regardless of the case’s outcome, this is unbecoming behavior by an elected official. ===
She personally witnessed the misconduct and certain cases sometimes find a way to get dismissed when no eyewitnesses show up. You are off base here.
- Amalia - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 5:23 pm:
sure, there are racists. but calling criticism of Foxx by white police officers and others racist is fanning the flames for political purposes. and time for people to start calling that out. the truth is, from her conduct in office, she does not care about criminal prosecution. she’s weak and sloppy. that is why she needs to go.
- Anonymous - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 5:29 pm:
Maybe Jerry Joyce will run against her?
- DougChicago - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 6:20 pm:
Foxx is toast
- Chicagonk - Monday, Apr 15, 19 @ 8:42 pm:
I do think prosecutors need to be fairer across the country and not always seek the harshest sentences available, but they better be willing to be transparent about the process and communicate with the public their intentions. Foxx’s inexperience is showing, but she has some time to right the ship without compromising on her values.