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.
