Shining a light on wrongful convictions in Illinois

'You might have to hold your nose, and then pull the lever,' activists say

Community activists working on criminal justice issues were ambivalent about their choices for the next occupant of the White House and doubtful either of the candidates in the presidential race would have an impact on local concerns. "I think he who will go without a name clearly shows America

'Check your judges' empowers voters with insight into judicial candidates seeking retention

Judge Carol Howard grew up on Chicago's West Side into a family of six children and became the first lawyer in her family's history. In a survey about her work, Howard credits the listening skills she learned from her parents as an asset she employs every

Appellate justices reverse circuit court; vacate Kevin Jackson conviction

An appellate court panel on Friday reversed a circuit court judge’s ruling to uphold the 21-year-old criminal convictions of Kevin Jackson.

Delays and continuances result in decades-long challenges to convictions

After 39 hours of interrogation, Clayborn Smith in 1992 signed a statement confessing to the murders of his grandfather and great aunt. At the trial two years later, he filed a motion to suppress his confession. But the presiding judge didn't believe Smith's allegations that police

A building named in his honor?

Throughout his legal career, George N. Leighton fought for justice. Does the courthouse named in his honor reflect his legacy?

'Use your legal power to vacate convictions,' Chicago moms say voicing UN mandate

Moms of adult children often lament that their sons and daughters don't call home frequently enough. But that's not the issue for Denise Spencer, who says there have been times when her son has called her as many as ten times a day. Spencer's

High court upholds gun conviction despite State's failure to prove defendant didn't have license

The Illinois Supreme Court voted to uphold the conviction of a man on an unlawful possession of a weapon charge, a misdemeanor that carried a 30-day jail term, even though state prosecutors pursued the case without independently verifying that the defendant violated state law. While all seven justices voted to

Activists: 'Use UN report to address wrongful convictions'

A group of mothers who say their sons have been kidnapped by the Illinois Department of Corrections are asking outgoing Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx to use a UN report as a catalyst to release from prison more people who say that police tortured them into confessing

Misleading testimony to grand jury isn't enough to dismiss indictment, Illinois high court says

High court justices reverse lower court sanction on prosecutor for allowing misleading testimony in grand jury hearing After two lower courts dismissed his case with prejudice, the Illinois Supreme Court in a 4-3 decision voted to continue prosecuting a man who says the State manipulated a grand jury to secure

Crawford family: "Since he's been gone a piece of the puzzle is missing."

Two decades ago, the Crawfords lost a member of their family to the carceral system. On a February night in 2004, Oliver Crawford Jr. was in Streamwood, Illinois spending the night at the home of his cousin Shirley, according to court documents. Later that morning he would get ready to

Appellate court orders immediate release of Kevin Jackson

After more than two decades behind bars, Kevin Jackson is going home. "Having now had the opportunity to review the briefs and hold oral argument in this case we are now of the opinion that Mr. Jackson meets the criteria for release," the panel wrote in an expedited

"Free them all. Free them now."

"Free them all. Free them now!" That was the cry heard in front of the Cook County State's Attorney's Office Sept. 30 at a rally to ask outgoing top prosecutor Kim Foxx to "leave the office with a bang" by vacating the