Once again, a request by former Governor George Ryan's attorneys to have him released from his 6-1/2 year prison sentence early was met with a smackdown from U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer. more ›

For months, attorneys for former Governor George Ryan have argued for his release from prison so that he can be by his ill wife, Lura Lynn. Today, Ryan's attorneys filed a motion with medical records to back that up. more ›

The Supreme Court's decision regarding the honest services law is like AJ Pierzynski taking first base on that passed ball in Game 2 of the 2005 AL Championship Series. It's a ray of hope for folks like Conrad Black, George Ryan and now Tony Rezko that they can have their convictions overturned, using the narrower guidelines. more ›

Former Governor George Ryan's attorneys were in court again today arguing that he be released from prison based on the Supreme Court's narrower definitions of the honest services law. They're arguing that, under the narrower definitions, Ryan wouldn't have been convicted for receiving gifts in exchange for state contracts and leases. more ›

As we wait to see if one former governor will ever go to jail for corruption, another who's already serving time is, once again, asking to be let out. Citing the failing health of his terminally ill wife and this year's Supreme Court decision on the Honest Services law, jailed former governor George Ryan has asked the federal judge who presided over his trial for a release. more ›

The Supreme Court weakened the "Honest Services" fraud law today, saying the law was too vague. Local figures who had been charged, in part, under the law include former Sun-Times owner Conrad Black and former governor Rod Blagojevich. Both of those cases, however, included other charges as well (the feds even prepped for this by re-indicting Blago). Black's conviction includes several other charges so the SCOTUS wouldn't overturn his conviction, leaving that, instead, to the appeals court process. The main argument in the case was brought by former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling. Meanwhile, Judge Zagel turned down a request by Blago's defense to continue the trial until next week, arguing John Harris' testimony falls under the honest services umbrella. The SCOTUS ruling is expected to have little effect on the trial thanks to the earlier re-indictment. more ›

And so we're here. After a surreal, 19-month long roller coaster ride of insanity, the main event is upon us: the Blagojevich Trial. Sure, there's plenty of court action to talk about and more than worth following: the ongoing Jon Burge trial and the approaching Drew Peterson murder trial, to name two. But both will take a back seat to the three-ring circus that is the federal corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich. And, to be honest, there have been so many twists and turns - Christopher Kelly's suicide, Rod's Celebrity Apprentice stint, the Esquire story - that we'd understand if you've had a hard time following the case. Remember the morning of his arrest and the original indictment? It seems like so long ago. Just this past December, Karl valiantly recapped some of the twists and turns that took place in that first since Blago's arrest. Blago's own attorney declared him a "celebrity idiot" which inspired Karl to break into song. And did we mention the actor/mystery-writer judge that's presiding over the case? more ›

With every other attempt to delay his trial shot down, attorneys for former governor Rod Blagojevich are taking their case straight to the top: the Supreme Court of the United States. Team Blago wants the case to wait until the SCOTUS rules on a few cases involving the honest services law, something that should happen sometime in June. more ›

A federal appeals court has turned down a request by Team Blago to delay the start of the ex-gov's (and his brother Rob's) trial. With this latest round of denial for the defense, it appears only an act of SCOTUS will keep the trial from starting June 3. And Blago's defense team is not afraid to aim that high. After yesterday's decision, Rob Blagojevich attorney Michael E. Ettinger said, "We are going to the Supreme Court," while Rod's attorney Sheldon Sorosky echoed the sentiment, saying the team would "contemplate a possible appeal to the Supreme Court." more ›

• The Cook County Board agreed to pay a total of $525,000 - in installments - to former death row inmate Leroy Orange as a result of a wrongful conviction lawsuit. Orange has already received $5.5 million from the City.
• The Board also approved a $108 million redevelopment plan for the old Cook County Hospital.
• The City's handgun ban wasn't the only SCOTUS appearance this week. The court also heard arguments regarding the Honest Services Law which affects both the case against former Sun-Times owner Conrad Black and former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich.