A teacher guilty of child pornography, Illinois mandates a six year minimum sentence. So how could judge Joe McGraw decide to give him zero jail time?
[McGraw]: So I would take the file folder, go back in chambers, and I’d lay it on the floor then I would lay on top of that file, and I’d pray and pray and pray until God gave me leading [on] what to do, and then I’d come back out and give my ruling.
* Lee Enterprises’ Illinois political reporter Brenden Moore…
“Eric Sorensen just demonstrated how out-of-touch and elitist he truly is by insulting tens of thousands of Illinoisans who believe in the power of prayer. I’ll never apologize for putting my faith and hope in God, and using that faith to make serious decisions whether as a Judge or member of Congress. This campaign has never been about politics, but the values of our district not being represented in Congress. What better example is there than our own Congressman attacking the use of prayer? He mocks the values we share while promoting his own extreme views.
Everything about Eric Sorensen, from his self-proclaimed bipartisanship to the ‘good neighbor’ image he tries to project, is an act. The real Eric Sorensen is flat-out extreme, and unfit to represent us in Congress.
He supports providing sex change drugs and life-altering sex change operations to young children.
He has hosted drag shows for children exposing them to sexually explicit content and supports allowing biological men to share restrooms with young girls.
He is on the record joking about rape.
And he posted images on his secret Facebook account referring to police officers as ‘bastards’ and ‘fascist pigs’. Needless to say Illinoisans will not be lectured on values by this elitist politician who would be wise to drop the facade and go run for office in Los Angeles or New York City where folks are just as out-of-touch as him.
As far as being soft on crime goes, Eric Sorensen can try to fool voters with a deceptive ad about a decades old case that was decided through a plea agreement before sentencing. Throughout my life I’ve prosecuted and brought justice to criminals while always supporting survivors. I’ll put that record up against reading weather reports any day of the week.”
The judge overseeing the case against a former AT&T Illinois executive accused of bribing ex-state House Speaker Michael J. Madigan declined Tuesday to schedule another trial, saying he first wants to hear arguments on a motion for acquittal.
U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman got back together with lawyers in the case of ex-AT&T Illinois President Paul La Schiazza five days after a jury failed to reach a verdict in the case. The panel heard from more than a dozen witnesses over four days earlier this month.
Defense attorney Tinos Diamantatos told the judge Tuesday he planned to file the motion for acquittal as soon as Friday, while prosecutors planned to ask for another trial date. But Gettleman said they’d be getting ahead of themselves by scheduling a new trial.
Rather, Gettleman said he planned to take a “serious look” at La Schiazza’s motion. He set oral arguments for Nov. 14.
Meanwhile, the oral arguments in La Schiazza’s case will land in the middle of Madigan’s own trial on racketeering charges, which kicks off in two weeks and could pose similar problems for prosecutors, particularly on several counts where they now have to prove there was an agreement with Madigan ahead of time to exchange something of value for an official act.
Gettleman alluded to the Madigan trial during Tuesday’s hearing, noting that it has “similar issues” to the one’s they were dealing with.
“Maybe we get some guidance from the (7th Circuit U.S.) Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court, who knows,” the judge said. “We certainly could use it.”
If there is a retrial, Gettleman said it would probably not happen until spring or summer of 2025, due to his schedule.
After months of tension, Mayor Brandon Johnson told Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez on Thursday that he wants the embattled schools chief to leave his position, two sources told the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ.
Martinez did not immediately resign and instead plans to wait to hear from the Board of Education, a source said. The school board has the sole authority to dismiss the CPS CEO. While the seven-member board, which was appointed by Johnson, has sided with Martinez this year on a couple key disputes, it’s unclear where it stands on firing Martinez. […]
Rather than operate in lockstep with the mayor, as past CEOs have done, Martinez has resisted certain demands from Johnson — like taking out a short-term, high-interest loan or putting a pension payment on CPS’ books — and painted himself as a fiscally responsible leader. In some of the battles, Martinez seemed to have the Board of Education on his side, and some of his allies have suggested that the board might keep Martinez on.
…Adding… Sigh…
According to Martinez’ contract, CPS must give him 6 months notice before termination, plus 20 weeks severance, unless let go for cause. Meaning, they can’t fire him during CTU contract negotiations, as CTU has sought. If CPS fires for cause, Martinez would likely sue. https://t.co/nGKLU5fHOe
I asked Gov Pritzker last month about rumors CPS CEO Martinez would be let go: “if it’s simply to accede to the demands of CTU,” Pritzker said, “you don’t want to just lay down to the union. I hope that’s not the reason.” pic.twitter.com/avievTuBMf
A federal jury in the bribery trial of former AT&T Illinois boss Paul La Schiazza, accused of funneling payments to an ally of Michael Madigan to win the speaker’s support for legislation in Springfield, has told the judge overseeing the case they may be deadlocked.
“What happens if we feel we are at a stalemate and feel that it won’t change?” a note sent out by the jury early Thursday said, according to U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman.
Gettleman said he would tell the panel to keep at it.
“But I don’t see keeping them beyond today” before declaring a mistrial, Gettleman told lawyers in court. The judge is leaving town and won’t be back until Tuesday.
* More…
Judge: "I want you to take those words and go back to the jury room and keep working on this. We can get back together this afternoon and determine whether or not you can do that. I know that it's a difficult decision, but it's important that you give it another try."
The jury was brought in, and the judge re-read them the instruction below. He also told them, "keep working on this and let me know if you're able to reach a verdict … we can get back together this afternoon." pic.twitter.com/8EyTVVs1jk
Prosecutors say La Schiazza bribed Madigan by paying $22,500 to former state Rep. Edward “Eddie” Acevedo in 2017, just as AT&T sought a legislative victory that had eluded it for years. The feds say Madigan wanted to help Acevedo because of the increasing Latino population in Madigan’s district.
“Madigan wanted to help Eddie Acevedo so that Eddie Acevedo could help Madigan,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sushma Raju alleged in her closing argument.
Defense attorneys stressed the lack of evidence proving that AT&T paid Acevedo in exchange for Madigan’s help with the bill.
Jurors seemed to quickly focus on that question earlier in their deliberations. They sent a note to the judge Wednesday morning asking whether the law requires proof of such an exchange.
Judge Gettleman is back on the bench and reads the note: “We believe there’s no possibility of coming to a unanimous verdict,” Judge says they could hear by volume of conversations coming through the door, “they were really trying hard” https://t.co/Fs7LDS7Ke2
Judge Gettleman says "it's a disappointment for everyone."
AUSA Tim Chapman counters that "they're clearly deadlocked," but he says it's also possibility they're "unaware of their ability to return a partial verdict."
Judge says he’s going to ask the foreperson in open court if they’re deadlocked on all counts or just some. If she were to say no, they can go back. “If she says yes, which is what her note implies, I would have to declare a mistrial. It’s not something I want to, believe me.”
///BREAKING/// The jury has hung in the trial of former AT&T Illinois boss Paul La Schiazza. Mistrial declared. This comes three weeks before the man La Schiazza was accused of bribing, Speaker Michael Madigan, goes on trial pic.twitter.com/7FoLKMRDxP
The judge overseeing the bribery trial of former AT&T Illinois boss Paul La Schiazza, accused of funneling payments to an ally of Michael Madigan to win the speaker’s support, has declared a mistrial in the case.
U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman announced his decision Thursday afternoon, a few hours after the jury had communicated to the court that they appeared to be deadlocked.
