Chicago, IL A weekend in Chicago brought me to my old Chicago haunt of Old Town. My taste buds always scream for some of the great places I used to eat.
Chicago, IL—A 12-member jury heard the evidence and could not reach a unanimous verdict in the "trial" of murder suspect Drew Peterson.
The jury was picked from random observers at Chicago’s Kent College of Law. Available evidence was presented at a Mock Trial held before retired Cook County Circuit court Judge Richard E. Neville at the school’s Marovitz Courtroom.
The case was prosecuted by WGN radio co-host of Legally Speaking, and lawyer Karen Conti who guided jurors through Peterson’s failings as a husband along with his lecherous fondness for young women. Conti fell short of having any physical evidence that tied Drew Peterson to the death.
Conti had to deal with the original and follow up autopsy results finding Kathleen Savio’s death was the result of an accidental drowning presumably in her own bathtub. Conti suggested the Coroner’s Jury’s verdict was unduly influenced by a member that was a cop that had once worked with Peterson.
The Savio/Peterson marriage was described by Conti as a violent one where both parties called local police on 18 occasions. There was never an incident where either party suffered an apparent injury.
The Defense was presented by lawyer Joseph Lopez. He described Savio as being a feisty woman upset with Peterson’s dumping her for a younger woman.
Lopez hammered at the weakness of the state’s case and suggested that the hearsay evidence offered by Peterson’s now missing young wife Stacy Peterson was unreliable.
Noting that Stacy Peterson was involved with at least one new lover, she met her young minister, Neil Schori, not at a church but at a local restaurant. The ministered claim was that Stacy Peterson revealed that her husband confessed killing his third wife and expressed her own fears she was next in line for murder.
The best advice the minister claimed he could give was to, “Go home and pray about it.” Lopez insisted that the minister had an obligation to tell the young woman to flee from the danger and notify the authorities. The strong suggestion was that of deception by the young minister.
The jury was instructed by Judge Neville and retired for a 30 minute attempt at deliberations. The jury was split six-six and could not agree on a verdict. The jury panel consisted of nurses, sales people, a banker, office manager and retired folks.
The public event was sponsored by WGN Radio and Moderated by another WGN Legally Speaking co-host lawyer, Greg Adamski. Also on board the trial was jury consultant, Dr. Cindy Adams.
This mini-trial made it clear that prosecutors will have an uphill battle to convict the retired cop of killing his third wife even with questionable hearsay evidence. That was assuming that the new “Drew Peterson Hearsay Law” stands certain legal challenges even before a real trial will begin.
The entire event was recorded and will be broadcast by WGN on June 14 and 15.
In a related matter yesterday, Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow filed a motion on Wednesday to gag Peterson’s defense attorneys from leaking any information from discovery documents, which must be turned over to Peterson's legal team for the first time next week.
Ohio, USA-Cash strapped Toledo and Columbus are laying-off cops. Because Ohio is a right to carry state, many citizens will be ready for most anything including those dreaded pink slips.
Like cops the armed citizens need to learn not to bite off more than they can chew and call for back-up. If the police can’t come, arrange it with a well trained neighbor or two to act as your back-up.
Should you come home and find the door broken or otherwise suspect someone is in your home don’t ever try making a house clearing without competent help. Wait for the burglars outside and confront them there. If they threaten you fire shots until the threat passes.
Through it all remember the four words to tell inquiring police, "I want a lawyer" and NOTHING else. Let a neighbor make any 911 calls. Stay off the 911 operator’s recording of your words. Don’t ever answer any questions other than name and address and if you need police or an ambulance.
The 911 operators are trained to redundantly try to get you to incriminate yourself so don’t play their game.
Saying that really lame, “I was in fear of my life” crap is an AMISSION THAT YOU SHOT SOMEONE. Don’t confess, say nothing at all. That’s your right!
Washington, DC: As Barack Obama seizes control of car makers, firing their CEOs and installing his party faithful patronage hacks to run these companies I refuse to buy any the products at any price.
We can all refuse and still let these companies fail sending a message straight to the Whitehouse. My GM days are over for good. It’s too bad but I’d rather drive a Kia.
I have no problem with what Gays do behind closed doors. I’m not anti-Gay but I believe marriage is about a mom, dad and the strong probability of children.
Gays don’t need this strictly symbolic legal status. It makes a mockery out of marriage when gays call themselves husbands and wives. In the case of a transgender person I’d concede that could be a legitimate marriage.
Civil Unions are the way to go for Gays. They can have their honeymoons and give each other presents and such. They can carryon anyway they choose as long as the peace is not breached.
As for Gay adoption, I support it for those in committed relationships that will protect the children. There are so many children put through horrible abuse by their natural parents. There are plenty of kids that need a safe refuge. There is the not so simple issue of a boy growing up sharing with his schoolmates that he has two daddies. I don’t have a clue how that will not cause ridicule and a beating.
Guys have to be more reasonable that to demand a right to marriage when they don’t fit the mold. No matter what the law says the fact that marriage requires both a man and a woman does not change.
Washington, DC—Another judicial activist with a black robe who will circumvent lawmakers with her own Bolshevik ideas has been nominated for the US Supreme Court. Sonia Sotomayor plainly stated that she is a policy maker right here.
How much longer must we tolerate that Marxist despot in the Whitehouse? Please call your US Senator and demand this woman not be appointed.
Sacramento, CA—They want yet another law to control prisoners. They are demanding that possession of a cell phone in a prison be made a felony.
Yes, cell phones can be used for nefarious activity but this as a problem is way overblown. I’m in favor of giving inmates cell phones and monitored Internet access.
You can’t get far into the Internet if you can’t read or write. It only makes sense to encourage Internet activity. Computer literate inmates will be more employable upon release that those deprived of this activity.
I have no difficulty with the idea of punishing inmates that commit crimes while in prison. This cell phone crap is more about total control than anything else. This is a different matter in some supermax facility where the inmate will never again see freedom. Most inmates will get out of custody for sure.
Want to save millions of barrels of oil? Want to save lots of natural gas and electricity? Want to reduce automobile accidents? Want three day weekends?
That sounds too go to be true doesn’t it? It’s really quite simple we all go to a four-day, ten-hour work week. We take off Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Schools can do the same as to not create problems with families. The savings in non-renewable energy resources would be spectacular. The saving to businesses and workers would stimulate the economy better than anything our worthless President has proposed.
There are those businesses that need to stay open like grocery stores, restaurants and movie theaters. These businesses will just continue as they always have.
This is a simple fix that will help America get back on its feet sooner.
Chicago, IL—After a 1960’s major bail bond scandal here involving a prominent Cook County judge, laws were changed. The entire business was jettisoned from the courts in Illinois and the court clerks took over and things were simplified.
The court clerks under the new law would temporarily keep ten percent of the total bail amount required and posted. After an accused defendant made all of his required appearances 90% of the money would be refunded to him or his lawyer by agreement. Conventional bail bond companies keep all of the ten percent as their fee. This money is better used when diverted to defense lawyers.
Absconders would be hunted down by police not clowns like “Dog” The Bounty Hunter. The real benefit is that often lawyers would accept the bond slips as partial payment for services and that cut down the amount of public defenders needed. Should the defendant abscond the court clerk keeps the money. This became a win-win situation for all but the bail bondmen.
Bail bondsmen are a throwback to the olden days of Wyatt Earp and bounty hunters collecting rewards. Those days are gone in Illinois and the entire country would be better off if they followed suit.
In the case of anyone arrested for a simple misdemeanor offense and the accused has no a felony conviction or history of failure to appear release on a simple promise to appear statement makes sense. Jail space is needed for dangerous or repetitive criminals.
As the politicians and their appointed bureaucrats cut jobs, and tax people everywhere they seem to forget to make their own sacrifices. We have a national financial emergency at every level of government in America.
Elected politicians and appointed officials from the President on down, need to lead by example. The salaries for all these officials should be cut by at least 25% until we can fix our financial woes.
Exceptions can be made for those earning less than $75,000.00 per year.
I have no problem with what Gays do behind closed doors. I’m not anti-Gay but I believe marriage is about a mom, dad and the strong probability of children. 
Washington, DC—Another judicial activist with a black robe who will circumvent lawmakers with her own Bolshevik ideas has been nominated for the US Supreme Court. Sonia Sotomayor plainly stated that she is a policy maker right here.
Sacramento, CA—They want yet another law to control prisoners. They are demanding that possession of a cell phone in a prison be made a felony. 
Want to save millions of barrels of oil? Want to save lots of natural gas and electricity? Want to reduce automobile accidents? Want three day weekends?
Chicago, IL—After a 1960’s major bail bond scandal here involving a prominent Cook County judge, laws were changed. The entire business was jettisoned from the courts in Illinois and the court clerks took over and things were simplified.
As the politicians and their appointed bureaucrats cut jobs, and tax people everywhere they seem to forget to make their own sacrifices. We have a national financial emergency at every level of government in America. 
