Bianchi Suit Against Special Prosecutor McQueen Reinstated by Appellate Court

Your homework for today is to read the 2nd Appellate Court decision reinstating McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s suit against one of the Special Prosecutors who indicted him on criminal charges that were so weak that they were tossed … Continue reading

James Cowlin Files State Election Board Papers

Appointed Circuit Court Judge James Cowlin has filed papers with the Illinois State Board of Elections indicating he is running for the office in the Republican Party Primary Election. The form was signed on the August 22nd. James Wright is … Continue reading

Judge Gordon Graham Retiring

McHenry County Circuit Court Judge Gordon Graham has informed court officials that he is retiring on September 7th. In 2010, Graham ran for and won the office. He won the GOP primary election without opposition. Then, up popped Sally Wiggins, … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 3

Here is the third installment of the posting of attorney Terry Ekl’s First Amended Complaint against Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan, his assistant Thomas McQueen, Quest Consultants International, et al.  Here are Part 1 and Part 2. Tonigan settled with Bianchi, … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 2

Please refer to Part 1 for the introduction to this series of posts that contain attorney Terry Ekl’s First Amended Complaint of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, et al, against Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan, Thomas McQueen, Quest International Consultants, … Continue reading

Special Prosecutor’s Court File Unsealed by Judge Gordon Graham

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi had some interesting news at Congressman Randy Hultgren’s fund raiser in McHenry Friday night. He told me that Circuit Court Judge Gordon Graham agree to open the court file in the Special Prosecutor’s criminal … Continue reading

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, et al, Sue Special Prosecutors Tonigan & McQueen, plus Quest Consultants, et al, Plus “Unknown Conspirators”

The suit that had been virtually promised by McHenry County State Lou Bianchi during the two trials brought by Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen has been filed in Federal Court. It outlines fifteen counts, which I’ll wade through … Continue reading

County Compares Potential Costs to Benefits and Decides to Pay $275,000 to Bianchi’s and Synek’s Attorneys

Without admitting liability, the McHenry County Board voted 18-3 to pay Terry Ekl and Ernest DiBenedetto $275,000 to settle claims of over $600,000 in legal fees and expenses to defend State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and his assistant Joyce Synek. That … Continue reading

Bianchi Supporters File Illinois Supreme Court Challenge to Judge Graham’s Refusal to Reveal Special Prosecutor Records

In a motion filed with the Illinois Supreme Court, Attorney Terry Ekl asks that documents kept secret by McHenry County Circuit Court Judge Gordon Graham be made public. Ekl is representing a group of supporters of McHenry County State’s Attorney … Continue reading

An Over Million Dollar Offer the County Board Can’t Refuse

The Northwest Herald’s Kevin Craver had an exclusive yesterday about a deal being considered by the McHenry County Board to dig itself out of the financial hole its unquestioning members have dug. Without demanding detailed bills from Judge Gordon Graham, … Continue reading

Koehler Not Pessimistic about Appellate Court Special Prosecutor Payment Ruling

McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler was anything but downbeat about the 2nd Appellate Court’s decision upholding Judge Gordon Graham’s payment of $250 per hour to the Special Prosecutors who unsuccessfully prosecuted McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi. “Obviously, we … Continue reading

McHenry County Board’s Special Prosecutor Fee Payment Appeal Denied, Judge Gordon Graham’s Decision Upheld

Considering the Special Prosecutors appointed by Judge Gordon Graham have been spectacularly unsuccessful and expensive, I thought folks might like to read the whole 2nd Appellate Court decision on McHenry County’s effort to rein in costs.  It is below.  I … Continue reading

Chicago Coverage of Lou Bianchi’s Vindication

The Chicago Tribune thought McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s trial was a big deal. There were three reporters, plus a photographer assigned to cover the charges–only one argued in Assistant Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen’s closing arguments–that Bianchi committed multiple … Continue reading

Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan Tries to Get Out of His Job by Petitioning Rockford Judge

Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan tried to get McHenry County Circuit Judge Gordon Graham to pull the plug on his assignment to prosecute McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi. Judge Graham pointed out that the McHenry County Board had appealed his … Continue reading

Terry Ekl Letter to Thomas McQueen which Prompted McQueen’s Request to Withdraw from Lou Bianchi Prosecution

It is not a secret that McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s defense attorney Terry Ekl holds Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen in low esteem. He has compared them to Abbott and Costello last Friday, saying that such … Continue reading