Because the torture allegations against former police Cmdr. Jon Burge occurred during Richard Daley's tenure, the City Law Department is obligated to pay for his defense. more ›

Looks like the "Jon Burge gets to keep his pension" saga isn't over just yet. Rev. Jesse Jackson announced Saturday that he plans on filing a lawsuit to have Burge's pension revoked. Last Thursday the police pension board deadlocked on whether Burge's pension should be revoked. The four who voted to let Burge keep his pension were all current or former cops elected to the pension board by the Police Department and said that Burge's conviction for perjury and obstruction of justice was not related to the allegations of police torture with which Burge has become synonymous. more ›

The sentencing hearing for former Chicago Police lieutenant Jon Burge began this morning to a packed courtroom. Over the next two days, victims of Burge's torture tactics while he was at Area 2 Headquarters are expected to offer emotional testimony and ask Judge Joan Lefkow to impose a harsh prison term to the policeman who came to epitomize police brutality in Chicago. more ›

An attorney acquainted with former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge through her boyfriend testified today that Burge told her police had beat murder suspect Andrew Wilson to gain a confession. Burge is currently on trial for perjury and obstruction of justice and is accused of lying in a civil suit about having knowledge of any police torture of suspects. more ›

The wheels of justice in America turn slowly. So slowly that Cortez Brown, in prison for nearly two decades for a murder he claims he didn't commit, pleaded guilty yesterday to the crime so he could be released from prison in a timely fashion even as he maintains his innocence in the crime. more ›

Jon Burge, the former Chicago Police captain accused of leading a group of officers that allegedly tortured suspects, is finally facing trial. The first step begins today with the start of jury selection. Potential jurors will appear in court to complete a questionnaire and will return to court on May 24 to complete the jury selection process. Because the statue of limitations on possible torture charges have expired, prosecutors are instead going after Burge for perjury and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors say Burge lied in 2003 when asked if he was aware of any acts of torture going on under his command. That was during a wrongful conviction lawsuit filed by Madison Hobley. Hobley was originally convicted of setting the 1987 fire that killed seven people, including his wife and son. He served 13 years in prison before Gov. George Ryan pardoned him in 2003 and in his wrongful conviction lawsuit, Hobley alleged that Burge and his men tortured him in to making a false confession. (When investigators filed no new charges against Hobley for the fire, he was cleared to collect his full settlement). more ›

Michael Tillman, who has served 23 years of a life sentence on a murder conviction, was released from prison today after prosecutors declined to retry him. Tillman claimed he was tortured by former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge into confessing to the 1986 rape and murder of Betty Howard. But this morning, Judge Vincent Gaughan granted Tillman a new trial. At that point, Assistant Special State's Atty. Myles O'Rourke dropped the charges against Tillman. Howard's family has been angered by the move, believing Tillman is still guilty. Her daughter Angelita said after the announcement, "I'm truly hurt. I will be praying about this because it's unjust. ... It's truly messed up that the police messed up this case and because of that Michael is getting let out." more ›

Two men, Ronald Kitchen and Marvin Reeves, have been freed by a judge who ruled in favor of their claims they were wrongfully convicted on the basis of false confessions that were beaten out of them as a result of torture during the tenure of former police commander Jon Burge. The two were convicted in the 1988 quintuple murder of two women and three children. The Illinois Attorney General's office backed the mens' request for release. [WBBM] more ›

28th Ward Alderman Ed Smith cautioned State Attorney General Lisa Madigan that if she walks away from the Jon Burge torture cases that allegedly took place at Area Two Headquarters in the early 80's she'll face a backlash that could have consequences on any campaign she launches for Governor, U.S. Senate, state supreme court, or even re-election. Madigan's office has been handling the Burge cases since 2003, when Chief Criminal Court Judge Paul Biebel found that then-State's Attorney Richard Devine had a conflict of interest because Devine once represented Burge. Madigan has asked that five of the 25 cases she's currently handling be shifted back to the state's attorney office. "If this is shifted back, it's gonna get lost in the cracks, put on the back burner and nothing will happen. Those people who are in jail will remain in jail. I want her to follow these cases to fruition and make sure that justice is served from her office" Smith said. "Our community is still upset about these cases. It could give the impression that she just wants to walk away and let it go. It could be an adversity if she ran again." more ›

New controversy has erupted in the case of former police Cmdr. Jon Burge as the Fraternal Order of Police has announced they will pay for Burge's defense, a bill the Trib speculates could reach as much as $1 million. Burge was charged in October with perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with charges of police torture.

FOP President Mark Donahue confirmed that the union board voted Tuesday to provide funds for Burge's defense. But Donahue declined to comment further Thursday, saying he would have a more complete statement on the issue Friday. more ›

Mayor Daley yesterday did what he does best: ruffle feathers. MayDay got all sassy in terms of offering an apology to torture victims in the Burge case. Well, late yesterday afternoon, the Mayor's spokesperson issued something of an apology for the "apology."

Mayor Daley has, on more than one occasion, expressed regret for what were clearly horrific acts and a regrettable time in our city's history. His remarks today were by no means aimed at the alleged victims or their families but merely reflect his frustration that certain key points of the case are routinely lost in the media, namely, the fact that it wasn't until Mayor Daley became mayor that Jon Burge was fired.