Chicago Tribune reporter covering the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse and criminal justice issues in Chicago. Signal: jmeisner48.08https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mrgdtiwtrk2fJUST IN: Imprisoned former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has asked the U.S. Supreme Court for an extension on the deadline to ask them to hear his case. He now has until Aug. 2624 Jul 2026 21:56 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrgdtiwtrk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mrdqt7oui22eAfter a member of a brazen armed robbery crew was shot in the shoulder, he checked into a hospital under an alias, the feds say While he was in the ER, Jordan Fox posted a selfie on Facebook with the caption: “All these sins and God still not ready fa me yet" https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/23/chicago-area-bar-liquor-store-robberies/23 Jul 2026 21:11 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdqt7oui22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mrdge2e7bc2j“Everybody come here before I drop the switch!” Three members of a violent stick-up crew were convicted this week on charges involving 14 armed robberies of Chicago bars and liquor stores, including the Irish Nobleman Pub in West Town https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/23/chicago-area-bar-liquor-store-robberies/23 Jul 2026 18:03 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdge2e7bc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mrbve4cdw227It was a dog of a game. But man what a cool shot from Wrigley by the Tribune’s @mandophotos.bsky.social23 Jul 2026 03:26 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrbve4cdw227https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mrbfwzvc322t“This isn’t a game show where we applaud when things happen” Bond granted for Oak Lawn drug clinic operator accused of stealing millions, buying yacht called 'Butt Nekkid' Feds say Daniel Robinson had plans to flee to Brazil https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/22/oak-lawn-methadone-clinic-owner/22 Jul 2026 22:51 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrbfwzvc322thttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mr4d6udbnc24Two years after he was ambushed by a son of "El Chapo" Guzman and flown across the Mexican border, Sinaloa Cartel boss Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada is given life in prison. Meanwhile the "Chapitos" are cooperating with the U.S. goverment in their case in Chicago: https://apnews.com/article/mexican-sinaloa-cartel-leader-el-mayo-zambada-f4d67eb73013acd76f08e7fc6fd7f525?utm_source=copy&utm_medium=share20 Jul 2026 22:18 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr4d6udbnc24https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mr3kisq57224Greg Bovino says Chicago's US Attorney wasn't aggressive enough in charging protesters during Midway Blitz... Yet charges were dropped against one man when video surfaced showing Bovino lied about being shoved. Another man was aquitted of putting a bounty on his head https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/19/us/immigration-chicago-prosecutors.html?smid=bs-share20 Jul 2026 14:56 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr3kisq57224https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqubdnw7ks2qIn case any of this is sounding familiar...that's because it is. Four years ago: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2022/05/23/madigan-knew-about-secret-payments-to-ousted-political-operative-unsealed-court-filing-alleges/ [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Jul 2026 17:24 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqubdnw7ks2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqu7eeudfs2c“I may look like a five but I f— like a 10” How Illinois House Speaker Welch's office knew of harassment claims against disgraced state Rep. Benton made by a young staffer years ago -- and did nothing. By Tribune aces Jeremy Gorner and Rick Pearson: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/17/state-rep-harry-benton-harassment-claims/17 Jul 2026 16:48 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqu7eeudfs2chttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqs4gcv5bs22A federal judge says a fugitive ex-Loretto Hospital executive is not entitled to a dismissal hearing amid the ongoing "Broadview 6" fallout because it would be seeking "the benefits of a justice system he is actively refusing to be prosecuted in.” STORY: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/16/judge-fugitive-ex-loretto-hospital-exec-not-entitled-to-dismissal-hearing-amid-broadview-six-fallout/16 Jul 2026 20:50 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqs4gcv5bs22https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqrwd7ri2s2gJUST IN: Judge rules ex-Loretto Hospital exec Anosh Ahmed’s decision to fight extradition means he’s not entitled to a hearing on dismissal of fraud charges due to prosecutorial misconduct— at least for now His co-defendants were cut loose last month: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/12/feds-move-drop-charges-fraud-broadview-six/16 Jul 2026 19:01 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrwd7ri2s2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqrljxqv622vEx-Summit police chief John Kosmowski gets 3 years in prison for shaking down a bar owner over a liquor license. The feds say he was captured on wiretaps talking like the criminals he was supposed to investigate -- including calling a cooperator “a rat.” https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/16/ex-summit-police-chief-gets-three-years-in-prison-in-shakedown-scheme/16 Jul 2026 15:48 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrljxqv622vhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqrh2hnmo22qProsecutors are now asking for an additional two weeks to file reponses on all the ongoing issues in the "Broadview Six" case Defense does not oppose, so we're looking at Aug. 4 now [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 Jul 2026 14:28 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrh2hnmo22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqpie75m622c"Would you put her even in charge of a ham sandwich?” GOP senator singles out former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot during Todd Blanche's confirmation hearing to be Attorney General https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/15/lori-lightfoot-todd-blanche/15 Jul 2026 19:46 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqpie75m622chttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqnsmexndc2cJUST IN: In a filing calling for a full hearing, lawyers for the Broadview Six take US Attorney Andrew Boutros to task for his office-wide email on the day charges were dropped calling his prosecution team “Courageous.” They say his message should have been “exactly the opposite”15 Jul 2026 03:44 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqnsmexndc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqnanhpzts2tNEW: Former Chicago R&B superstar R. Kelly has formally petitioned President Donald Trump to commute his 30-year sentence for sex abuse of minors Kelly, 59, is not due to be released until January 2046 https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/14/r-kelly-trump-sentence/14 Jul 2026 22:23 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqnanhpzts2thttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqd5m4iqek23In granting compassionate release for convicted fraudster Yale Schiff, a federal judge says she's "deeply troubled" that the U.S. attorney's office did not oppose it, which they routinely do in almost every case. She says this could influence treatment of future defendants:10 Jul 2026 22:02 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqd5m4iqek23https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqcqgmztdc2fJUST IN: After abruptly dropping the original charges, the feds have now indicted at least one of the defendants accused in an ATF weapons sting that led to the shooting of two suspects, according to this defense filing today. The case is sealed on the docket https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/19/charges-dropped-atf-shooting-case/10 Jul 2026 18:06 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqcqgmztdc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqakdwrwmc2xFederal appeals court upholds Illinois assault weapons ban, overturning lower court ruling in what could be a short-lived victory for Gov. JB Pritzker https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/09/illinois-assault-weapons-ban-upheld/ @petrellareports.bsky.social and @jeremygorner.bsky.social reporting09 Jul 2026 21:12 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqakdwrwmc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqaenp33sk2hJUST IN: In a 2-1 decision, the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has REVERSED the lower court decisions overturning Illinois' law banning certain assault weapons, which passed in the wake of the July 4, 2022 mass shooting in Highland Park:09 Jul 2026 19:30 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqaenp33sk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqa6gshijk2sJudge says US Attorney Andrew Boutros violated her sealing order in Tren de Aragua case, but issues no sanctions. Boutros, meanwhile, says he thought the charges would be unsealed ahead of his DC news conference. "The stars were not aligned." STORY: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/09/andrew-boutros-order/09 Jul 2026 17:39 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqa6gshijk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mqa6fxo2zk2qJudge says US Attorney Andrew Boutros violated her sealing order in Tren de Aragua case, but issues no sanctions. Boutros, meanwhile, says he thought the charges would be unsealed ahead of his DC news conference. "The stars were not aligned." Story: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/09/andrew-boutros-order/09 Jul 2026 17:38 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqa6fxo2zk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mq7vhlc2pk2qUS Attorney Andrew Boutros has entered the courtroom for this hearing, along with his top assistant, Jason Yonan. [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 Jul 2026 14:58 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq7vhlc2pk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mq7scbam7s24U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros has been ordered to appear before a magistrate judge at 10 a.m. over “possible” violations of her sealing order in a murder/kidnapping case. It’s a relatively minor issue- but certainly an unusual spectacle I’ll bring the highligts: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/08/us-attorney-tren-de-aragua-good-faith-hearing/09 Jul 2026 14:01 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq7scbam7s24https://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mq7oqglrys2l“This was an abrupt departure of a good man” Speculation continues to swirl over why Chicago FBI boss Doug DePodesta was forced out after a 24-year career. And what about that lunch with US Attorney Andrew Boutros? https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/09/chicago-fbi-boss-forced-into-early-retirement-skips-lunch-with-us-attorney-boutros/09 Jul 2026 12:58 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq7oqglrys2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mq66xxhh322wA federal judge has refused to cancel a hearing where U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros potentially will have to explain why he publicly discussed charges against reputed members of the Tren de Aragua gang even though the court’s order sealing the case was in effect https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/07/08/us-attorney-tren-de-aragua-good-faith-hearing/08 Jul 2026 22:43 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq66xxhh322whttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mq63tf6rck2cU.S. Magistrate Judge Laura McNally just posted a minute order saying she interprets Boutros' request "as a motion to strike the hearing." "The motion is denied." See you tomorrow. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Jul 2026 21:47 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq63tf6rck2chttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mq5yv4uw3k2cJUST IN: The U.S. attorneys office has asked a magistrate judge to cancel a hearing Thursday where U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros may have to explain why he made charges in a murder/kidnapping case public even though her order sealing the case was still in effect They say it was all done in good faith08 Jul 2026 20:54 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5yv4uw3k2chttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mps2hhf7ms2u🎶 Give me five I’m still alive Ain’t no luck I learned to duck 🎶 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸04 Jul 2026 02:50 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mps2hhf7ms2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/jmetr22b.bsky.social/post/3mp7qcc7hws2vUPDATE to a scoop Christy Gutowski and I had last year: An ICE agent whose DUI arrest after a shift in Broadview drew headlines during Operation Midway Blitz pleaded guilty Friday to an amended charge of reckless driving. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/06/26/ice-agent-reckless-driving-broadview-dui/26 Jun 2026 20:00 +0000at://did:plc:vrwglonkfa7hsapabfvdh4l5/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp7qcc7hws2v