Illinois quick hits: Madigan arrives to court; Johnson exploring tax increases

Madigan arrives in court with jury selection underway

Jury selection is underway in the corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. Judge John Robert Blakey opened the proceedings promptly at 8:57 a.m. Wednesday at the Dirksen U. S. Courthouse in Chicago. Blakey said that all jurors who were scheduled to appear Wednesday did appear. Blakey told jurors that the court would move as fairly and efficiently as possible to honor their sacrifice. He also explained juror rules of conduct. Madigan is facing 23 counts of bribery, racketeering and official misconduct. Both Madigan and co-defendant Michael McClain were present in court Wednesday morning.

Johnson exploring tax increases

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is exploring new ways to close the nearly $1 billion budget deficit the city is currently facing, including possible layoffs and raising taxes. According to Crain’s Chicago Business, the mayor is considering a property tax increase, which would go back on a campaign promise he made not to raise taxes. The city is also planning to save money through the refinancing of bonds.

Man sentenced for drugs in mail

A Kankakee man has been sentenced to ten years in prison in a federal case involving drugs and the mail. Prosecutors said Javan Thompson used the U.S. Mail in an attempt to obtain fentanyl and cocaine for distribution. A package was intercepted containing thousands of fentanyl pills and several hundred grams of cocaine. Federal law provides for a minimum of ten years in prison when fentanyl is involved.

Attorneys report bullying

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism has released a study on the impact of bullying in the Illinois legal profession. Lawyers were asked to list incidents of workplace bullying over a one-year period during 2022 and 2023. Nearly 10,000 attorneys said they left a job practicing law because of bullying. The statistics show 38% of female lawyers were bullied, compared to 15% of male lawyers.