The Illinois Supreme Court upheld a lower court's ruling allowing for a new hearing for a man convicted of a 1982 rape who long claimed his confession was physically coerced from him by former Chicago Police Lt. Jon Burge. more ›

John Conroy, whose work detailing the police brutality of former Chicago Police Lieutenant Jon Burge and his underlings for close to two decades at the Reader is one of the best local examples of stellar journalism you'll ever read, was the proverbial fly on the wall as Burge was sentenced last week to 4-1/2 years in prison for perjury and obstruction of justice. Conroy's account of Judge Joan Lefkow's lengthy rebuke of Burge before handing down the sentence can be read at the Better Government Association's website. It makes for a fitting epilogue to what really has become Conroy's life's work. more ›

Jon Burge's fate is now in the hands of the jury in his perjury and obstruction of justice trial after both sides gave closing arguments yesterday. Burge is accused of lying at a 2003 civil trial about the alleged torture of suspects during his time as Area 2 commander. During this trial, though, his defense team painted the accusers as liars and conspirators, scheming to take Burge down. As he's done for the entire duration of the trial, John Conroy offers the best recap at his blog at Vocalo: more ›

Jury selection in the Jon Burge trial on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice is underway today as potential jurors are questioned by attorneys. While we'll be following on via several media outlets, we'll also be paying close attention to John Conroy's blog over at WBEZ. more ›

With the trial of former Chicago Police commander Jon Burge set to resume with jury selection on Monday, WBEZ has recruited John Conroy, who originally covered the accusations and investigations extensively for The Reader, to blog the trial for them. It's a great get for WBEZ given the depth and breadth of Conroy's knowledge of the case; his still chilling 1990 piece "House of Screams" essentially broke the story wide open. more ›

On the afternoon of May 9, 2008, John Conroy - former writer for the Chicago Reader - was the victim of an unprovoked attack on the West Side while riding his bike. He's now captured the incident, his experience, and an unflinching look at youth, violence, and race in a stunning piece of work for Chicago Magazine. Check it out here. [via WindyCitizen] more ›

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 ›

Bad news out of the Reader offices: Harold Henderson, John Conroy, Tori Marlan and Steve Bogira were fired yesterday. Henderson and Conroy were two marquee names for the paper: Conroy has written the definitive chronicle of police torture in the City since 1990, and Henderson has written one jillion crotchety stories over the years. Sleep with one eye open, Ben Joravsky! According to editor Allison True's memo, Unfortunately the financial pressures of our industry continue... more ›