County Clerk Mary McClellan Misconduct Sanction in Prior Job Upheld by Federal Appeals Court

This matter concerning thisdecision is something I don’t remember writing about before, so I think I’ll just reprint the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals decision.  It was written by Richard Posner, one of the more respected members of the panel. … Continue reading

Former GOP McHenry County Board Member Robert Bless Has Law License Suspended

Fox River Grove’s Robert Bless came out of nowhere to win the Republican nomination for McHenry County Board in 2008. He beat two better known candidates: former Fox River Grove village president Bill Yocius, who ran against me in the … Continue reading

Crystal Lake Attorney Charged with Taking $644,000 of Clients’ Money

The Illinois Registration and Disciplinary Commission, the regulatory agency for attorneys, has charged Curt Patrick Rehberg, who practices in Crystal Lake, with taking hundreds of thousands of dollars of a client’s money. He use it “in payment of Respondent’s own … Continue reading

The Problems of County Board Member Bob Bless

Columbia Journalism School grad Pete Gonigam, Editor of the First Electric Newspaper, wrote an article last Thursday about the legal problems of District 1 McHenry County Board member Robert Bless. Bless is running for re-election this fall, along with two … Continue reading

Algonquin Attorney Jason Smiekel Arrested by Feds for Murder for Hire

Here is the paperwork for the murder for hire arrest of Algonquin lawyer Jason W. Smiekel: = = = = = See also Aug 11, 2011, court order about Smiekel’s being kept in jail. = = = = = NORTHERN … Continue reading

McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi Acquitted on Charges of Official Misconduct

“Second verse, same as the first,” was the line running through my had as I drove home from the Courthouse. Judge Joseph McGraw had just acquitted McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi of the two remaining counts of official misconduct … Continue reading

Dismissal of Special Prosecutors Tonigan & McQueen for Incompetence Requested, ARDC Complaint Possible

Six citizens represented by McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi’s Defense Counsel Terry Ekl have asked to be interveners in Judge Gordon Graham’s secret supervision of Special Prosecutors Henry Tonigan and Thomas McQueen. The six, all supporters of Bianchi, are … Continue reading

Northwest Herald Suspends “No Commenting” Policy in Lou Bianchi’s Criminal Case

Comments have been closed on articles about criminal cases by the Northwest Herald since sometime earlier this year. On the felony indictment of McHenry County State’s Attorney, however, comments are being allowed. Just an observation. Draw your own conclusion. = … Continue reading