Is the City finally going to reach some kind of resolution with four victims of police torture victims? It look like it. Aaron Patterson, Leroy Orange, Stanley Howard and Madison Hobley, all tortured by Chicago Police commander Jon Burge and his Area 2 lackeys, will divide a $20 million settlement in their suit against the city. Says 4th Ward Alderman Toni Preckwinkle, Failure to settle these cases when there was no argument anymore that there... more ›

How many of you remember Aaron Patterson? He was one of the infamous "Death Row 10" who spent 13 years on Illinois' Death Row for a murder he insisted cops, led by former commander Jon Burge, framed him for? Four years ago, in his final official acts, former Governor George Ryan pardoned Patterson and three others while commuting the sentences of all other Death Row inmates to life in prison. After his release and pardon,... more ›

It's pretty tough to gain the jury's sympathy when during your trial you frequently spew profanity, insult prosecutors and then attack your own attorneys. So it comes as no suprise that the jury found Aaron Patterson guilty. The jury found the freedom fighter/revolutionary/professional troublemaker guilty on one count of marijuana conspiracy, one count of heroin conspiracy, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, one count of possessing a machine gun, five... more ›

Since we left college, Chicagoist has spent a limited amount of time in court proceedings. The ones we have witnessed have been a lot like pro basketball games: lots of tedium with a few minutes of excitement at the end. So we imagine Sun-Times federal court reporter Natasha Korecki must feel like she hit the jackpot in covering the trial of self-styled “freedom fighter” Aaron Patterson. Patterson, pardoned in 2003 for double murder by then-governor... more ›