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Blagojevich Trial

* Politico today…

Rod Blagojevich is getting back into politics — but not as a candidate. He appears in a new digital ad to support Orland Township Supervisor Scott Kaspar, who’s running against Democrat Paul O’Grady in the April 6 consolidated election. The former governor takes a dig at O’Grady, by calling him a “Madi-goon,” a reference to being an ally of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, who butted heads with Blagojevich while in office. Blagojevich, who has appeared on “The Apprentice,” also had a bit of self-deprecating humor. “I’m the only guy in American history to have ever been fired and freed by the same guy.”

The 2.5-minute video is here if you’re at all interested. Dude is definitely in the “fat Elvis” phase of his life. The words are still there, but the spark is long gone.

* Kaspar’s ticket, Orland Residents for Responsible Government, has been endorsed by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau, who is up for reelection. But the local party is having some problems lately…

Orland Township Trustee candidate Lora Kreczmer posted bond on Tuesday afternoon after reports revealed she had an outstanding arrest warrant for three charges stemming from a car accident in August 2017, according to Chicago Ridge police. She is currently running on the Orland Residents For Responsible Government (ORRG) slate in the April 6 election.

According to Chicago Ridge police, Kreczmer got into a car crash Aug. 1, 2017, in the 10100 block of S. Harlem Avenue. The officer who wrote the accident report said Kreczmer was speaking with “mumbled speech,” she appeared to have “a blank stare” and her movements were “delayed/deliberate.” This lead to a field sobriety test, and Kreczmer was later faced with four charges, including driving under the influence - drugs, driving on a suspended or revoked license and failure to yield on a private road or drive,” according to records obtained and revealed in a Suburban Chicagoland report.

The report indicates a FOIA request — which cost a total of $9 — revealed that Kreczmer dodged her Sept. 26, 2017, Bridgeview court date to face the charges, and an arrest warrant was later issued on March 21, 2018, due to her failure to show up. According to records the outlet obtained, Kreczmer’s DUI charge included the use of prescription drugs.

Oops.

* And then…

Orland Township Board of Trustees candidate William Keefer is the latest on Orland Residents for Responsible Government’s slate to draw scrutiny.

Keefer, 25, has said he is a lawyer, listing it as his occupation in our Patch candidate survey. Although he did graduate from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 2020, according to the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, by definition, Keefer is not a lawyer, regardless of his degree.

In order to be considered a practicing lawyer in the state of Illinois, one must pass the bar exam, which is given to law school graduates to determine whether they are qualified to practice law in a specific jurisdiction.

Recently, readers asked Patch to look into Keefer’s qualifications as a lawyer. Before we could, the candidate’s profile on the political committee’s website changed. Prior, Keefer’s biography stated, “As a lawyer, William is interested in constitutional law ….” Now it reads, “William obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He is currently awaiting his bar exam results.”

Oops.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:02 pm

Comments

Ah, bench warrants the candidate “forgot” about. One of my first clients did such a thing.

Once I ambushed a candidate with a collection warrant at a town hall which was also fun

Comment by Will Caskey Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:06 pm
Can we please be done with township government already?

Comment by Shemp Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:11 pm
“fat Elvis” stage of life. Classic.

Comment by Winner Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:13 pm
Didn’t Kaspar work for Trump?

Maybe Trump unleashed Blago to help Kaspar

Comment by RINO Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:15 pm
I take some issue with the Patch’s determination that Mr. Keefer is not a “lawyer”. The bar exam determines whether you should be licensed to practice. There are many lawyers who are unlicensed and do not practice. It might be splitting hairs to some, but achieving the degree itself allows for a legitimate use of the word “lawyer”…so long as you are not using it in a manner that would promote an idea that you have an active practice.

Comment by fs Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:16 pm
Orland Residents for Responsible Government sounds anything but…just sayin.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:17 pm
Random guy at the bus stop today mentioned what a great guy Blago was, making sure seniors paid less for a CTA pass. I pointed out Capone liked to hand out shiny dimes to kids back in the day. Random guy shut up.

Comment by Cheryl44 Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:17 pm
=“fat Elvis” stage of life. Classic.=

AKA the Vegas years for Elvis

Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:19 pm
wow, Kaspar is a pretty dishonest person. But, I guess that is the game today. Blago looks like crap w that hair hanging below his eyes. Also, Keefer is a lawyer, but he is not a bar licensed practicing attorney; legal term of art. This race is a joke already.

Comment by ;) Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:21 pm
Just… don’t wear that shirt

Comment by Ok Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:24 pm
===Can we please be done with township government already?===

Perry county dissolved their townships years ago by countywide vote… Its something that is doable…

Comment by 618er Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:30 pm
Would be better if Kaspar didn’t have to read his lines off a phone during the ad.

Comment by Buford Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:38 pm
Surprised that Pritzker doesn’t donate to the Mayoral race in Orland Park against Pekau. This whole slate was put up by Pekau personally. Will be interested to see if the Republican Committeeman Liz Gorman endorsed the ticket or if she plans on it. They all claim to be Republicans the old Mayor might have a shot now at winning

Comment by Hard D Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:43 pm
Recovering lawyers are still lawyers. Once you pass the bar, you’re a lawyer for life. But the Patch is the same rag that gives column inches to the discredited has-been Mark Konkol so can’t say much for their standards.

Comment by Southern Skeptic Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:44 pm
=== Once you pass the bar===

The candidate says they haven’t passed the bar.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:46 pm
fs - Representing oneself as a lawyer without passing the bar and/or registering with ARDC could run afoul ARDC rules.

The mere fact of graduating from law school does not grant the authority to call oneself a lawyer. Likewise, neither does passing the bar. It is the possession of the license that grants the designation.

Similarly, someone cannot legally call themselves
or practice as an engineer without a professional engineer license.

My highest professional accomplishment was receiving my PE license in the mail. It meant I could call myself and be recognized as an engineer.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:49 pm
===Dude is definitely in the “fat Elvis” phase of his life. The words are still there, but the spark is long gone.===

Sometimes… you can’t add to something so perfect.

Textbook, restaurant-quality.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:58 pm
Adding from the ABA model code of ethics Rule 5.5 “… (b) A lawyer who is not admitted to practice in this jurisdiction shall not: … (2) hold out to the public or otherwise represent that the lawyer is admitted to practice law in this jurisdiction. … ”

If he isn’t admitted to the Bar, he isn’t a lawyer.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 12:59 pm
I’ve been admitted to more bars than I can remember, maybe he should try that one.

Comment by Not the Dude Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:03 pm
I always look for something in Blagojevich’s eyes…but it’s just not there…sadly.

Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:19 pm
“admitted to more bars than I can remember”

Thanks for the chuckle. I needed it today.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:22 pm
Blago’s spot will leave a mark, he still have a great presence in Illinois. I respect him more now than ever.

Comment by The hair Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:25 pm
== Adding from the ABA model code of ethics Rule 5.5 “… (b) A lawyer who is not admitted to practice in this jurisdiction shall not: … (2) hold out to the public or otherwise represent that the lawyer is admitted to practice law in this jurisdiction. … ”==

Re-read that, and then tell me exactly how that conflicts with what I said earlier. It doesn’t. A person can be “a lawyer…not admitted to practice”. They simply cannot represent to the public that they are admitted to practice.

I’m not saying what he did was correct, it definitely borders on representing that he’s a practicing attorney. My issue is with the Patch’s determination that one must pass the bar before being “a lawyer”. They are two different things.

Comment by fs Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:35 pm
Will Dan Proft be running primetime tee vee commercials for Mayor Keith and his cronies? Or has that well dried up?

Comment by Les Nessman Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:36 pm
He looks like Rod Blagojevich…strained through a sheet.

Comment by Dotnonymous Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:44 pm
Can Blago find a job as a used car salesman on Western Avenue? With that voice, he’d be perfect.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:49 pm
Blago got 41% in Orland Township the last time he ran. Granted, it was 2006, but still.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:49 pm
===I respect him more now than ever.===

The man shook down a Children’s hospital.

Your moral compass is something, now more than ever.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:52 pm
Mr. Keefer is a lawyer. He is not authorized to practice law. You can see the distinction from this comment on the ARDC website.
“the ARDC must remove from the master roll the name of any lawyer who has not registered for that year. The rule also provides that any lawyer who practices law while not on the master roll engages in the unauthorized practice of law and may be held in contempt.”

Comment by Bigtwich Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:53 pm
As a lawyer, I would say he is a lawyer. He is simply not a lawyer who is licensed to practice. Admittedly, it is a bit of a gray area, but that is just my opinion of it. Others might have a different opinion.

Comment by Bad Karma Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:57 pm
achieving the degree itself allows for a legitimate use of the word “lawyer”

• Lawyers can practice law,
• William Keefer cannot practice law, therefore
• William Keefer is not a lawyer.

Similarly, although I graduated with a science degree, that don’t make me a scientist.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 1:57 pm
Fat Elvis indeed. He even has the 70s open collar thing going on, and it’s not a good look. A gold chain might help.

At first I thought he was the waiter coming over to tell them about today’s specials. But then, waiting tables is too much work for Rod.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 2:07 pm
“I am a law school graduate. Therefore I is a lawyer?” Ehh, close enough” S/

Comment by Bruce( no not him) Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 2:15 pm
I have a 4-year Engineering degree, but they still won’t let me drive a train.

Comment by Stu Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 2:21 pm
So they have one guy impersonating a lawyer and lying. A woman who forgot she was arrested for a DUI and the head of the ticket Kaspar was rumored to be in DC Jan 6th. The guy then went and cleansed all his social media.
But to gain some credibility they hire X Governor who’s a convicted felon to cut a commercial. Would love to know who’s running that campaign and who did the Vetting of Candidates?
This race one could say is all but OVER

Comment by Hard D Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 2:31 pm
===“admitted to more bars than I can remember”

Thanks for the chuckle. I needed it today.===

As did I.. I will add that being ‘disbarred’ sounds better than what happened to me on a couple of occasions…

Comment by 618er Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 2:49 pm
Sorry, but exactly what is the O’Grady - Madigan comnection besides the “he is Madigan’s top guy in Orland Township”? Like was he on Tech Review or something?

Let me also say- that is the absolute worst campaign “ad” I’ve ever seen. Dude needs a haircut and he looks drunk. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think it was a parody ad designed to help O’Grady.

Township govt is stupid and I definitely don’t have a dog in that fight but goodness. Absolutely God awful ad.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 2:56 pm
OVER? Turnout will decide this race…and Danny still has a bit of stink from the pay raise he pushed through. Pekau had quite the following with his Covid denial YouTube videos. So it all comes down to who shows…quite a mess for sure.

Comment by Southsider Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 2:58 pm
One more - love how they disabled comments! LOL. Really brave of them. / sss (extra snark)

Comment by low level Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 3:04 pm
Is Ms. Kreczmer’s defense attorney Sam Adam, Jr.?

Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 3:37 pm
I am a lawyer.

I practiced law for mumblety-mumble years. I am now retired, and cannot practice law.

I am still a lawyer. “Retired lawyers pay no registration fee, and may not practice law based upon their Illinois license or hold themselves out as being so authorized.”

Comment by JoanP Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 4:07 pm
Why is Jesus Solario the 23rd Ward Republican Committeeman so interested in the happenings of the suburbs? He’s the gentleman to right of Scott Kasper in this superspreader restaurant.

Comment by Todd & Margo Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 5:32 pm
JoanP - the distinction between you and Keefer is that you were admitted to the Bar. Worked for a number of years and retired. Keefer has never passed the bar exam, been admitted to the Bar, nor practiced law.

Using the Professional Engineering Act as a proxy, nobody can call themselves an engineer without a professional engineering license.

By extension, no license, no lawyer.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Mar 17, 21 @ 8:16 pm