Blagojevich Sentencing Delayed

AP Photo/M. Spencer Green

Rod Blagojevich can breath a little bit easier today after news broke that his sentencing hearing would be delayed.

Judge James Zagel made the announcement via an electronic notice at the U.S. District Court in Chicago and that the sentencing hearing would be postponed "until further notice."

Zagel is also the presiding judge in the upcoming trial of Springfield power broker William Cellini, who had been wheeling and dealing downstate for decades and is on trial for allegedly trying to extort a businessman into contributing to Blagojevich's campaign.

Blagojevich attorney Sheldon Sorosky crowed last week that Zagel would postpone the sentencing hearing because of this conflict and the potential it had for tainting the jury pool for Cellini's trial.

That possible conflict didn't stop Zagel from denying a litany of post-trial motions by Blagojevich, including the demand for a new trial based on their contention Zagel didn't give them a fair shake in court.

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By Chuck Sudo in News on September 26, 2011 1:40 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Ingridz

I never understood anyone who would prefer having a sentencing delayed...not that I'd ever been in the position, but I think I'd rather just bite the bullet and start asap just to get it over with. I would think having that hanging over my head would cause unbearable stress.

BlueFairlane

I can kind of understand it in cases like this, when the guy's going to be gone for such a long time (we assume). His kids are young now, but his relationship with them is about to be severed in a way that will never be repaired. This is the last time he has to spend with his children when they're young. So while going in a month or two early means he'd come out a month or two sooner (in theory), this time right now isn't something he'll get back on the far end of it. I'd put it off every moment I could, too.