The suspect in the Chicago-area L train shooting will be held until trial, a judge rules
Read full article: The suspect in the Chicago-area L train shooting will be held until trial, a judge rulesA 30-year-old charged with killing four people aboard a Chicago-area transit train must remain in custody until trial.
Deadly Chicago traffic stop where police fired 96 shots raises serious questions about use of force
Read full article: Deadly Chicago traffic stop where police fired 96 shots raises serious questions about use of forceA deadly traffic stop where plainclothes Chicago police officers fired nearly 100 shots in under a minute has raised serious questions about the use of force and role of tactical officers in police departments.
Illinois Supreme Court to hear actor Jussie Smollett appeal of conviction for staging racist attack
Read full article: Illinois Supreme Court to hear actor Jussie Smollett appeal of conviction for staging racist attackThe Illinois Supreme Court will hear an appeal of actor Jussie Smollett’s disorderly conduct conviction for staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and lying to Chicago police.
Race for Chicago-area prosecutor seat features tough-on-crime judge, lawyer with Democratic backing
Read full article: Race for Chicago-area prosecutor seat features tough-on-crime judge, lawyer with Democratic backingAn open seat to lead the nation’s second-largest prosecutor’s office has become one of the most spirited races in the Illinois primary.
Illinois man who pepper-sprayed pro-Palestinian protesters charged with hate crimes, authorities say
Read full article: Illinois man who pepper-sprayed pro-Palestinian protesters charged with hate crimes, authorities sayA man who prosecutors say pepper-sprayed pro-Palestinian protesters in Illinois has been charged with hate crimes and aggravated battery.
Illinois appeals court hears arguments on Jussie Smollett request to toss convictions
Read full article: Illinois appeals court hears arguments on Jussie Smollett request to toss convictionsJussie Smollett’s lawyers have told an Illinois appellate court that it should toss the former “Empire” actor’s convictions for staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police.
Philadelphia's likely next mayor could offer model for how Democrats talk about crime
Read full article: Philadelphia's likely next mayor could offer model for how Democrats talk about crimeThe Democrat who will almost certainly become Philadelphia’s next mayor wants to hire hundreds of additional police officers and says officers should be able to stop and search pedestrians if they have a legitimate reason to do so.
Man gets new trial in Chicago honor student's death
Read full article: Man gets new trial in Chicago honor student's deathA state appeals court has ordered a new trial for the man accused of gunning down a Chicago honor student just days after she had performed at Barack Obama's 2013 presidential inauguration.
Prosecutor faces scrutiny from voters, panel over Smollett
Read full article: Prosecutor faces scrutiny from voters, panel over SmollettFILE - In this Feb. 22, 2019 file photo, Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx speaks at a news conference, in Chicago. A special prosecutor in Chicago says Foxx and her office abused their discretion in the case against actor Jussie Smollett but did nothing criminal. The last Republican Cook County states attorney was Jack OMalley, who was defeated by Democrat Dick Devine in 1996. Even before the special prosecutors findings were released Monday, the GOP candidate for Cook County states attorney, former county Judge Pat OBrien, already sought to make Smollett a campaign issue. But it added it categorically rejects characterizations of its exercises of prosecutorial discretion and private or public statements as abuses of discretion or false statements to the public.
Review cites 'operational failures' in Smollett prosecution
Read full article: Review cites 'operational failures' in Smollett prosecution“There were not thousands of (or, arguably any) similar cases” resolved by Foxx's office the way they resolved Smollett’s case, Webb said. And Smollett, Webb noted, was able to walk away without admitting any wrongdoing. Webb said Foxx began speaking to her before suspicions were raised that Jussie Smollett may have staged the attack on himself. “State’s Attorney Foxx then made false statements to the media claiming she ceased all communications with Ms. Smollett,” Webb concluded. The alleged false statements started to pile up.
Comfort dog meant to help child sexual assault victims
Read full article: Comfort dog meant to help child sexual assault victimsHatty's job will be to assist children and developmentally disabled victims of sexual trauma, an official press release said. That's why the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in Chicago hired its first comfort dog, a black Labrador retriever named Hatty. Hatty's job will be to assist children and developmentally disabled victims of sexual trauma, an official press release said. "Navigating the criminal justice system can be confusing and scary, especially for young people and other victims of sexual assault," Foxx said. Hatty was brought to Cook County in partnership with Duo Dogs, a nonprofit organization that provides highly skilled service dogs.
Hatty the Labrador Sworn in as Newest Employee at Chicago State Attorney's Office
Read full article: Hatty the Labrador Sworn in as Newest Employee at Chicago State Attorney's OfficeWith her paw resting on law books, Hatty the Labrador retriever was sworn into Chicagos State Attorneys Office Tuesday. Hatty will work to ease the stress of children and people living with mental health disorders who have been survived sexual assault. Coming to this work with compassion and understanding of victims' experiences helps to ensure the system is fair and just to everyone. Hatty was trained to help provide comfort and relaxation while victims are in the courthouse or while they are giving their testimony, Foxx wrote. According to the Associated Press, Hatty is the offices first emotional support dog, trained in part by inmates.
Judge rules on motions in Smollett case
Read full article: Judge rules on motions in Smollett caseCHICAGO - A Chicago judge Wednesday denied a request by Jussie Smollett's lawyers that a replacement judge be assigned in the former "Empire" actor's special prosecutor case, in addition to rejecting other motions put forward by Smollett's team. Judge Michael Toomin also denied a motion asking that Smollett's lawyers be allowed to intervene and argue other motions during the court appearance. Smollett's lawyers had hoped to use the brothers' testimony to reveal inconsistencies in their stories, as they are the only two witnesses in the case. Bodycam footage yields new detailsNo timeline has been provided for when Toomin will select a special prosecutor. In the case of a formal recusal, Toomin wrote, the court would have been responsible for appointing a special prosecutor.