The utter failure of Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen to put on a criminal case against McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi seems to have emboldened the McHenry County Board. After the acquittal on all counts rendered by … Continue reading
A U.S. Marshal told me he had spent three years sitting in courtrooms and never seen a directed verdict. I’ve seen one. It was when my 1982 Skinner for Congress campaign manager sued because I didn’t pay what he thought … Continue reading
The politically motivated trial of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and his assistant Joyce Synek ended in an acquittal for each on all counts. Judge Joseph McGraw, brought in from Winnebago County to try the case, issued the half-hour … Continue reading
2 PM – In the criminal trial of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and his secretary Joyce Synek, Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Joesph McGraw is considering whether to dismiss charges against the two. He recessed his court hearing … Continue reading
With former Criminal Division Chief Nichole Owens to go as Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan’s final witness, McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s criminal defense lawyer Terry Ekl is so unimpressed with the case put on against his client that he … Continue reading
Terry Ekl is McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s defense attorney in Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan’s criminal case contending that Bianchi used the office for political purposes. Rockford Judge Joseph McGraw prohibited people from entering the courtroom even though the … Continue reading
After checking with the McHenry County Circuit Clerk, I’ve discovered that the trial of McHenry County State’s Attorney will start at 10 AM, not 9. Judge Joseph McGraw will preside in Room 204. … Continue reading
A friend of McHenry County Blog was in the courtroom yesterday and provided the basis for this article. The preliminaries are over in the trial of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi. His attorney, Terry Ekl, argued for dismissal Wednesday. … Continue reading
According to the Chicago Tribune, Winnebago County Circuit Court Judge Joseph McGraw has ruled that Special Prosecutor Henry Tonigan is not overstepping his charge by investigating occurrences beyond the allegations of political use of his office by former secretary Amy … Continue reading
Judge Sharon Prather’s courtroom Friday was more packed than I have seen it since the 22nd Judicial Circuit was inaugurated. People were crammed in chock-o-block, many wearing carnations in support of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi. The hearing was … Continue reading
