Tag Archives: federal judge

Early end to Jesse Jackson Jr.’s supervised release from prison

(CHICAGO) A federal judge has agreed to end former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s supervised release from prison 18 months early, at his request.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is based in Washington, D.C., issued her order Tuesday, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting. The former congressman pointed out in a court filing last month that he has “maintained a positive and cooperative relationship with his probation officer and has abided by all terms and conditions of his supervised release.” He also said he has paid a $750,000 judgment.

Federal prosecutors did not object to Jackson’s request. In a statement Tuesday, Jackson said he was “pleased” with the judge’s decision.

The judge sentenced Jackson in August 2013 to 30 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. She told him he could not possess a gun “or other dangerous” weapon while on supervised release and she told him to steer clear of illegal drugs and any other crime. He was also told to submit to DNA collection by federal authorities and to participate in mental health treatment.

Additionally, the judge ordered him to perform 500 hours of community service and hand over financial documents to the probation office. In their own filing Friday, the feds said Jackson has fulfilled the community service requirement and “has not committed any violations while on supervised release.”

The judge also sentenced Jackson’s now estranged wife, former Ald. Sandi Jackson, to a year in prison followed by a year of supervised release. Sandi Jackson left federal prison six months ago.

Both Jacksons, who are now in the midst of a contentious divorce, pleaded guilty to various schemes relating to the looting of his congressional campaign fund. The former South Side 7th Ward alderman and the former 2nd Congressional District lawmaker each went to prison for diverting $750,000 from campaign funds for their personal use between 2005 and 2012.

Federal judge rules against effort for elected school board

(CHICAGO) A federal judge has rejected an effort by former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and some Chicago residents to force the city to adopt an elected school board.

Quinn and the residents filed a lawsuit in October contending a school board appointed by Chicago’s mayor violated the constitution and civil rights. They said such a board raises the question of taxation without representation.

The lawsuit included a demand that the city and Chicago Board of Education create a plan allowing for the election of school board members.

In her ruling issued Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Elaine E. Bucklo rejected those claims. She said the plaintiffs have no fundamental right to vote in school board elections as a matter of law.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Judge Scales Back Election Day Registration

By Bill Cameron, WLS-AM News

(CHICAGO) Election day voter registration in Illinois has hit a snag.  A federal judge has sided with the conservative Liberty Justice Center and granted a preliminary injunction against it pending trial.

 The issue is whether the new law is applied unfairly. Large counties, but not small ones, have to provide election day registration in the precincts. Small counties only have to have one central location.

A federal judge granted the injunction, but Cook County Clerk David Orr is hoping the same day registration that began as an experiment in the March primary can continue in the November general election.

 “Keep in mind over a hundred thousand people registered to vote on election day in precinct in March, and that’s a primary,” Orr said. “So we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of people that might want to do that and if that’s denied, it causes chaos.”

It also probably causes fewer Democratic votes.

@ 2016 WLS-AM News

 

@ 2016