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

Emails Belie Andy Zinke’s Claim to No Role in Prosecution of State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi

Is there a new and reformed Andy Zinke? The Northwest Herald does the public service of asking candidates for major office to reply to questionnaires. This question was interesting: “The sheriff’s office in recent years has been beset by acrimony … Continue reading

Terry Ekl Continues His Questioning of Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen

Cross examination of McHenry County Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen started after a lunch break on December 20, 2013, at his trial for indirect contempt of court.  (Sorry for the long delay in getting this written and up.  Find Part 1 … Continue reading

Terry Ekl Attacks Tom McQueen’s Testimony about Withholding Evidence in Bianchi Trials

The afternoon of the second day of the indirect contempt of court trial of McHenry County Special Prosecutor Thomas “Tom” McQueen consisted mainly of Lou Bianchi defense attorney and prosecutor of the McQueen case Terry Ekl’s questioning McQueen about his … Continue reading

Special Prosecutor Tom McQueen – Honest Mistakes or Willfull Withholding of Evidence?

The two-day trial of McHenry County Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen wrapped up yesterday. Wednesday was dedicated to the presentation of evidence by volunteer prosecuting attorney Terry Ekl that McQueen had deliberately withheld exculpatory evidence in the criminal trials of McHenry … Continue reading

Prosecution of Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen Withstands Directed Verdict Motion for Dismissal

Arising out of the two criminal prosecutions of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi for official misconduct, among other charges, was a motion by Bianchi to hold Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen in indirect criminal contempt of court. Prosecuted by Bianchi … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen’s Trial for Indirect Contempt of Court Wednesday

It’s been a long time coming, but McHenry County Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen goes to trial before Winnebago Chief Judge Joseph McGraw in his Winnebago County Courthouse Courtroom Wednesday at 9 AM. The saga began, some believe, when Dan Regna … Continue reading

Judge Joseph McGraw Takes Case & Prosecutor Dismissal Arguments Under Consideration

It will be over a month until Winnebago Chief Judge Joesph McGraw decides on two motions argued today concerning McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, et al’s contempt of court case against those who took part in the failed Special … Continue reading

Bianchi Judge Refuses to Step Down in McQueen-Quest Contempt Effort, Ekl Limits Penalty to $500 or Six Months in Jail

The Judge who twice dismissed criminal charges against McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi says he will decide whether Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen and his Quest investigators have committee contempt of court. Lawyers for McQueen and Quest employees Robert Scigalski … Continue reading

Bianchi Argues that Judge Should not Replace Joseph McGraw in Contempt of Court Motion Against McQueen & Quest

Terry Ekl, attorney for vindicated McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, argues in filing below against Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen’s motion that another judge should not replace trial Judge Joseph McGraw when his contempt of court motion is considered. You … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Attorney Replies to Request that Contempt of Court Judge Recuse Himself

Terry Ekl, the attorney for McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi, has filed the following in reply to a motion by Robert Scigalski and Patrick Hannretty Quest Consultants International for Judge Joseph McGraw. … Continue reading

Quest Asks Judge Joseph McGraw to Recuse Himself from Lou Bianchi Contempt Effort

The following is the court filing by Robert Scigalski and Patrick Hanretty of Quest Consultants International asking that Judge Joseph McGraw recuse himself in McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s attempt to have the two and Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen … Continue reading

Bianchi on the Attack in Chicago – Part 1

Not only was McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s legal team on the attack in Rockford, but papers were filed in Chicago in his Federal suit now against Thomas K. McQueen Daniel Jerger Robert Scigalski James Reilly Patrick Hanretty Richard … Continue reading

Focusing on Lou Bianchi’s Motion to Hold Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen, et al, in Contempt of Court – Part 2

  This is a continuation of what is in McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s motion for contempt of court against Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen and Quest investigators Robert Scigalski and Patrick Hanretty before Rockford Judge Thomas McGraw. The motion … Continue reading

Focusing on Lou Bianchi’s Motion to Hold Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen, et al, in Contempt of Court – Part 1

Monday was the first hearing on McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s motion to hold Special Prosecutor Thomas McQueen and two of his investigators in contempt of court. I asked Bianchi attorney Terry Ekl what happened. “Basically, nothing,” he replied. … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 5

This is the fifth and final installment of Lou Bianchi’s attorney Terry Ekl’s 49-page First Amended Complaint in the Federal Court suit the McHenry County State’s Attorney and his employees who were indicted in case with insufficient evidence brought against … Continue reading

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 4

We are moving on to Part 4–roughly pages 30-40–of Lou Bianchi attorney Terry Ekl’s First Amended Complaint against Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen, their investigative firm Quest Consultants International and others. From the title above paragraph 124, one … 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

Lou Bianchi’s Case against Those Who Persecuted Him – Part 1

Yes, I used the word “persecuted” in the headline, rather than “prosecuted.” This case charges, accurately, I believe, that Bianchi and his staff members who were criminally charged were “victims of politically and financially motivated criminal investigations and prosecutions,” as … Continue reading