Chicago, IL —Tune in to AM 560 tonight at midnight as we explore the cases Phil Spector, Drew Peterson and others in the criminal justice system. We will also talk about the approaching Summer of Mayhem on the mean streets of Chicago along with Chicago politics. WIND Radio can be heard live on the Internet too. Call in and tell us what you think! 312-642-5600

Los Angeles, CA—Judge Larry Paul Fiddler seemed like such a personable fellow when I met him in San Francisco at a function hosted by the Investigative Reporters and Editors some six years ago. First impressions are sometimes misleading. Fidler had the duty to give murder suspects a fair trial under our sacred system of justice. When legendary record producer Phil Spector’s murder case came before Judge Fidler, fairness was replaced by judicial tyranny. Fidler consistently ruled for nearly every request by prosecutors while denying nearly everything for Spector’s defense. Fidler was more biased than any judge I’ve seen in some 40 years. Fidler was out to prove that a celebrity could get convicted after a stunning series of acquittals of other accused Hollywood notables. Fidler was asked repeatedly to recuse himself and when he refused the defense went as far as the Court of Appeals and lost the argument. The real abuse of judicial discretion was surrounding the newly revised Ca...

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. Twin Anchors is just such a place where gluttony rules supreme. Here is that place in its glory and weather permitted me sitting in their sidewalk café. Watching the girls go by was better than desert!

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 w...

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 redundan...

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 ...

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.

A Salute to our Fallen Soldiers On Memorial day

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 ...