Illinois

More Drama Over Ill. Gov’s Alleged Attempt to Barter Obama’s Senate Seat

A stunning federal criminal corruption case announced yesterday against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich had a chorus of politicans, including President-elect Barack Obama, calling by the end of the day today for him to resign from office, reports the New York Times. As discussed in earlier ABAJournal.com posts, Blagojevich allegedly sought…

Dec 11, 2008 12:16 AM CST

Fed’l Case Against Ill. Gov Creates Unusual Issues for Judges & Lawmakers

As officials in Illinois struggle to cope with an unusual situation following the arrest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich in a federal political corruption case yesterday, the state’s attorney general is suggesting that the Illinois Supreme Court could play a key role in determining whether he should continue in office. Lisa…

Dec 10, 2008 5:37 PM CST

Little-Known Chicago Lawyer Accompanies Ill. Gov. to Court

Updated: When Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appeared in court on political corruption charges Tuesday afternoon, he was accompanied by a little-known Chicago criminal defense lawyer. Blagojevich stands accused of attempting to sell the Senate seat held by Barack Obama and offering millions of dollars in aid to the Chicago Tribune…

Dec 10, 2008 3:29 PM CST

Illinois AG Calls for Governor to Resign, Promises ‘Legal Steps’ If He Won’t

In a stunning day for those who follow Illinois politics, the state’s governor was arrested at his home in Chicago today and charged in a political corruption case. Then, by early this afternoon, the state’s attorney general, Lisa Madigan, was calling for Gov. Rod Blagojevich to resign immediately, according to…

Dec 10, 2008 12:58 AM CST

Ill. Gov. Arrested, Accused of Trying to ‘Sell or Trade’ Obama’s Senate Seat

Updated: Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been arrested on federal corruption charges at his Chicago home. He is accused of attempting to sell or trade the Senate seat held by Barack Obama and offering millions of dollars in aid to the Chicago Tribune if it fired critical editorial writers. The…

Dec 9, 2008 2:18 PM CST

Skadden Partner to Take White House Post

Skadden Arps partner Christina M. Tchen, one of Barack Obama’s top fundraisers, is expected to head the Office of Public Liaison for the White House. The Chicago Tribune’s blog, The Swamp, reports that Tchen was active in Obama’s campaign for Senate and raised between $200,000 and $500,000 for his presidential…

Dec 5, 2008 9:07 PM CST

A ‘Loser Pays’ Legal System Will Cut Frivolous Lawsuits, Report Says

The Manhattan Institute for Policy Research released a report today advocating for a “loser pays” rule to help staunch the exorbitant litigation costs that arise from nuisance lawsuits in the U.S. “Greater Justice, Lower Cost: How a ‘Loser Pays’ Rule Would Improve the American Legal System,” reports that Americans spend…

Dec 2, 2008 11:34 PM CST

Motion Seeks Recusal of 4 Ill. Justices Getting Corboy Campaign Cash

A motion filed in a legal malpractice appeal contends that four of Illinois’ seven Supreme Court justices should recuse themselves because of campaign contributions by the defendant law firm, Corboy & Demetrio. If the motion is granted, the court would not have enough votes to issue an official ruling, the…

Dec 2, 2008 7:13 PM CST

Durbin Asks Bush to Commute Ex-Governor’s Sentence

The senior senator from Illinois, Democrat Dick Durbin, has sent a letter to President George W. Bush asking him to commute the prison sentence of disgraced ex-governor George Ryan. The letter notes that Ryan, 74, has already lost his state pension benefits and won’t get them back if the sentence…

Dec 1, 2008 10:56 PM CST

Police Bribed Judge to Get Search Warrant, Ex-Chicago Cop Testifies

Testifying for the government yesterday in a federal corruption trial against his former partner, an ex-Chicago police officer said cops routinely participated in a number of illegal acts. Among them: allegedly bribing an unnamed judge to issue a bogus search warrant, after the judge “asked for it,” testified ex-cop Richard…

Nov 20, 2008 9:49 PM CST

Sonnenschein Pro Bono Case Produces Options for Developmentally Disabled

A consent decree obtained with the help of pro bono counsel Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal will give Illinois residents with developmental disabilities the option of moving from large facilities to community-based settings. The suit had contended unnecessary institutionalization violates the Americans With Disabilities Act. The consent decree gave the class…

Nov 19, 2008 8:12 PM CST

Ex-Weatherman Decries ‘Demonization’ in Georgetown Law Talk

The founder of the Weather Underground decried his “demonization” in speeches yesterday at Georgetown University Law Center and a Washington D.C. church. Bill Ayers complained that he had become a “cartoon and a caricature” after accusations surfaced during the presidential campaign that he was a terrorist who palled around with…

Nov 19, 2008 6:12 PM CST

Winston & Strawn Picks Up 19 Thelen Lawyers

Chicago-based Winston & Strawn has added lawyers from a second dissolving law firm. Winston is hiring 19 lawyers from Thelen, according to a firm press release. Among those joining Winston are the head of Thelen’s antitrust practice, Robert Pringle, two other antitrust partners and several associates from the group, reported…

Nov 19, 2008 3:00 PM CST

A Wrong Prediction about Construction Litigation Results in Layoffs

A Chicago law firm has laid off four of its 14 associates after hiring seven lawyers earlier this year in anticipation of an increase in construction litigation that never materialized. Stein, Ray & Harris now has 10 associates and 11 partners, name partner Robert Harris told the National Law Journal.…

Nov 11, 2008 2:32 PM CST

Trump Files $3B Suit Against Lenders for Chicago Condo and Hotel Skyscraper

Donald Trump is suing to extend a $640 million construction loan on a condominium and condo hotel project in Chicago that will be the nation’s second-tallest building. Slowing sales of condos and hotel rooms put projected revenue nearly $100 million below the amount needed to pay off a group of…

Nov 10, 2008 5:02 PM CST