Campaigns & Elections News

Lawyer asks judge to block deposition of IL Gov. Pritzker amid discrimination lawsuit vs Pritzker campaign

Motion says Gov. Pritzker doesn't know anything about the claims, didn't manage low-level campaign workers

By Jonathan Bilyk | Jan 18, 2020

Elections board: Chicago lawyer who represented Burge can use Irish maiden name on ballot for judge election

The hearing board said it doesn't matter she's used her maiden name when practicing law or running for other offices. The objector has sought judicial review of that decision.

By Jonathan Bilyk | Jan 15, 2020

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Appeals panel won't strike down state campaign finance law; Lawsuit said creates 'unlevel playing field'

By Scott Holland | Dec 31, 2019

Radio host challenged limits on independent expenditure committees

Class action: Cook Courts Clerk charging illegal fees to people seeking child support enforcement

By Jonathan Bilyk | Dec 26, 2019

A new class action lawsuit has accused the Cook County Circuit Clerk’s office of charging illegal fees to people filing petitions in Cook County court to enforce child support orders.

Investors bring class action vs Exelon over alleged corrupt ComEd lobbying using Madigan associates

By Jonathan Bilyk | Dec 18, 2019

A group of Exelon investors have filed suit against the parent company of electrical utility ComEd, asserting the company’s potentially corrupt state lobbying activities in Springfield artificially inflated the company’s stock price, setting investors up for losses when the federal investigation into those activities came to light.

Challenge filed vs judicial candidacy of lawyer who represented Burge, using Irish maiden name on ballot

By Jonathan Bilyk | Dec 12, 2019

A Chicago lawyer, who has defended police officers against misconduct charges, including Jon Burge, is seeking election as a Cook County judge, has been accused of attempting to use her Irish-sounding maiden name to confuse voters.

Ex-Madigan staffer settles sex harassment, retaliation lawsuit vs IL Dems, Madigan political orgs

By Jonathan Bilyk | Nov 30, 2019

Alaina Hampton, a woman who has claimed Illinois Democrats, led by House Speaker Michael J. Madigan, blackballed her in retaliation for complaining a Madigan operative sexually harassed her, has settled her case with Madigan, the state Democratic Party and other Madigan-controlled political organizations.

Pritzker campaign committee says ex-campaign workers refusing to cooperate, discrimination suit should be tossed

By Dan Churney | Nov 27, 2019

Lawyers for Pritzker's campaign say the plaintiffs haven't cooperated in scheduling and taking depositions and other discovery, and so most of them should be tossed from the action.

Replay of anti-gerrymandering court win in N.C. not necessarily best option for IL reforms, policy advocate says

By Karen Kidd | Oct 9, 2019

A state court in North Carolina has struck down a gerrymandered legislative district map, becomign the second state whose courts have used a provision also found in Illinois' state constitution to invalidate a district map favoring Republicans.

Cook County Clerk Yarbrough accused of hiring poltical friends, soliciting donations, violating court decrees

By Jonathan Bilyk | Sep 11, 2019

Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough could face a federal crackdown on her hiring practices since she was elected last year.

Anne Burke, wife of indicted Chicago alderman, selected next chief justice of Illinois Supreme Court

By Cook County Record | Sep 11, 2019

Anne Burke, an Illinois Supreme Court justice who has served on the court since 2006, and the wife of indicted Chicago Ald. Ed Burke, has been selected by her fellow justices to serve as the new chief justice of the state’s high court.

Comptroller's order on prevailing wage a political move: Attorney

By John Breslin | Aug 30, 2019

An order cementing the state's commitment to enforcing prevailing wage laws is a way to keep the trade unions on the side of Democratic state officials, according to a lawyer with expertise in defending companies on labor matters.

Madigan wins again: Lawsuit vs Speaker over 'dirty tricks' canned; Voters knew, voted for Madigan anyway, judge says

By Jonathan Bilyk | Aug 24, 2019

A man who claimed his campaign to unseat Illinois’ most powerful legislator was shortcircuited by sham candidates planted on the ballot to dilute the Hispanic vote can’t continue to press his lawsuit against Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan over those dirty tricks, because voters had ample knowledge of the shady tactics, yet still chose to elect Madigan anyway, a federal judge has ruled.

Appeals court says IL Auditor Mautino subject to fines for alleged campaign finance violations

By Dan Churney | Aug 21, 2019

An Illinois appeals court ruled the Illinois Board of Elections should consider fining Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino for alleged campaign finance irregularities, committed while Mautino was a state representative.

Judge: Union, Cook Circuit Clerk can't exclude federal hiring monitors from grievance proceedings

By Scott Holland | Aug 21, 2019

A federal judge said the Cook County Circuit Clerk can be forced to subject union grievance proceedings and other collective bargaining issues to federal oversight, to make sure politics is not improperly guiding employee disciplinary decisions.

Taxpayer suit says state constitution drafters would be 'horrified' to see long-term debt issued to fund Illinois’ structural budget deficits

By Dan Churney | Aug 14, 2019

Plaintiffs suing to bar Illinois' government from treating borrowing like tax revenue are asking a state judge for the chance to make the case that two state bond issues are illegal and prohibited by the Illinois State Constitution.

Industry groups: Statewide ban on ethylene oxide a 'sledgehammer,' would hurt IL economy, health care

By Jonathan Bilyk | Jul 31, 2019

Industry groups say they would oppose statewide ban on use of ethylene oxide, as proposed in new legislation from a suburban state senator, describing a ban as a "sledgehammer approach" that would harm the state economy and the U.S. health care system.

Gonzales alleges Madigan, allies ‘betrayed democracy’ with sham candidates in primary

By Dan Churney | Jul 22, 2019

An unsuccessful election opponent of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is suing the speaker and his “minions” for allegedly running “sham” candidates to draw votes from him, is arguing that Madigan’s motion to toss the suit should be rejected because Madigan forces “debased” the voting process.

Judge finds IL lawmakers can't vote to decrease their own pay, could order back pay for legislators

By Scott Holland | Jul 4, 2019

A Cook County Circuit Judge has ruled the Illinois state constitution doesn’t allow state lawmakers’ pay to ever be withheld or furloughed, siding with two Democratic ex-state legislators who are demanding the state pay legislators for everything furloughed during the Great Recession, with cost-of-living increases.

Cook County Record