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* Republicans were likely hoping for a pre-election trial, but no luck. Tribune…
The federal bribery case against a longtime confidant of former House Speaker Michael Madigan and three others has been rescheduled for March due to logistics issues with another high-profile case against singer R. Kelly.
The “ComEd Four” case, as it has come to be known, had been set to kick off in September, but U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber scuttled that plan last month when he learned that the large ceremonial courtroom would still be tied up with Kelly’s trial, which begins on Aug. 15.
The courtroom on the 25th floor of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse has been in high demand during the pandemic and is the only space that can accommodate a jury trial with multiple defendants given the COVID-19 protocols that are still in effect.
* Sun-Times…
Charged in the case are longtime Madigan confidant Michael McClain, former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, ex-top ComEd lobbyist John Hooker and former City Club President Jay Doherty.
The four are accused of arranging for Madigan’s associates and allies to get jobs, contracts and money in order to influence Madigan as key legislation worked its way through Springfield.
The group was originally charged in November 2020, and they had previously been set to go to trial in September. But U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber, who presides over the case, is also set to preside in August over the trial of R&B star and convicted sexual predator R. Kelly. Kelly’s trial on child pornography and obstruction of justice charges was recently pushed back two weeks, which was enough to knock the ComEd case off the calendar. […]
Timothy Mapes, Madigan’s former chief of staff, is also set for trial on perjury charges in January. And earlier this week, a judge set the long-awaited racketeering trial of Ald. Edward M. Burke (14th) for November 2023.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 3:49 pm
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Republicans are 0-2 in these “trials in time for elections” thingy.
First with Burke, now with ComEd.
The ILGOP, if they didn’t have bad luck…
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 4:10 pm
We have Ceremonial trials?
Comment by walker Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 4:18 pm
At what point do the postponement of the trials start to infringe on the defendant’s 6th amendment rights to a speedy trial?
Comment by Huh? Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 4:22 pm
===the defendant’s 6th amendment rights to a speedy trial?===
Has there been motions to this?
None are incarcerated
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 4:26 pm
After SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade and the Highland Park attack, no one really cares so long as you align with voters on Choice and Gun Control. This trial maybe a Primary issue for Madigan and Comed connected Dems in 2024 after the progressive gains this year. This is abviously very bad news for the Anti-Choice and Pro Assault Rifle conservative Republicans trying to win in moderate suburban districts. It’s turned into another 2018/2020 Anti-Trump (Bailey) year. To make matters worse, no one seems to care about crime outside the City of Chicago as well.
Comment by Samantha Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 4:34 pm
“At what point do the postponement of the trials start to infringe on the defendant’s 6th amendment rights to a speedy trial?”
Continuances in violation of speedy trial requirements usually take the form of an agreed to date. That is, prosecution and defense agree to it. The defense because they need time to prepare (or get paid) leading up to the trial. If they object, the judge could then order it based on the prosecutions motion that he agrees with. If there is no agreement and the judge wants to move forward, it is then on to trial.
Comment by ddp76 Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 4:35 pm
-At what point do the postponement of the trials start to infringe on the defendant’s 6th amendment rights to a speedy trial?-
When the defendants actually start to demand one.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 4:49 pm
-We have Ceremonial trials?-
The ceremonial courtroom has a much larger capacity for both the audience and the attorneys than the standard courtrooms. With four defendants, their counsel and the prosecution that’s a lot of people and tables. And it’s not just because the largest courtroom isn’t available - the judge isn’t available.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 4:51 pm
=== “At what point do the postponement of the trials start to infringe on the defendant’s 6th amendment rights to a speedy trial?” ===
I’m sure all of these defendants would be perfectly happy to schedule the trials for sometime in the 2050s.
To the post-
It’s pretty disturbing that the federal court system can kibosh executive actions with emergency nationwide injunctions but still takes years to try high profile defendants. That contrast absolutely contributes to the deepening legitimacy crisis. To many, courts appear more focused on thwarting democracy than holding criminals accountable.
Comment by vern Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 5:05 pm
Republicans are 0-2 in these “trials in time for elections” thingy.
First with Burke, now with ComEd.
The ILGOP, if they didn’t have bad luc
Lets just over look the fact they entered into a conspiracy to defraud every customer of monies, monies that they poor and could have used for food and other essentials, schools who could have used the monies to better educate our child, cities who could have used the monies to improve the decaying infrastructure…yeah, sorry the gop is jabbing bad luck…
Comment by Pfffft Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 5:29 pm
=== Lets just over look the fact they entered into a conspiracy===
Alleged.
The point of a trial is to prove that.
Since my lone angle is a political one, and only take, if your angle on it is different, have at it.
Comment by Oswego Willy Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 5:34 pm
I don’t get the point of another R Kelly trial. Didn’t he just get 30 years?
Comment by The Way I See It Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 7:08 pm
Surprised there hasn’t been more coverage of the craziness at the Dirksen Federal Building. 30 stories tall (about I think) and only allowing one jury trial at a time in the entire building.
Comment by James Thursday, Jul 14, 22 @ 7:14 pm
=== Lets just over look the fact they entered into a conspiracy===
Alleged.
The point of a trial is to prove that
Lets hope you keep that same attitude with all defendants, including cops and even with trump when he gets charged…
Comment by Rent free Friday, Jul 15, 22 @ 8:58 am
===Lets hope you===
Was the election fair and free, was there a “steal”?
Trump was already impeached, twice, and the insurrection had … (checks notes) … t-shirts, hats, and people were killed.
Let’s hope you’re not a conspiracy theorists or an insurrection apologists.
How’s that for your hope, that work?
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Jul 15, 22 @ 9:05 am