W.J. Kennedy Stories | Chicago City Wire

Misrepresentation of State's Attorney's Office Conviction Review Unit continues in the media

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 6, 2025

The Conviction Review Unit (CRU) in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) has taken plenty of heat

No word from Burke’s office on whether it will retry an exonerated Alexander Villa for murder of off-duty police officer

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 5, 2025

Alexander Villa, convicted of the 2011 murder of off-duty police officer Clifton Lewis, has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming his 2019 conviction was the result of a scheme by prosecutors and police to manufacturer evidence against him.

Big win for gun rights advocates as judge strikes down requirement to possess firearm license inside the home

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 18, 2025

For the third time a circuit court judge struck down a portion of the state law

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will have a lot of explaining to do when he appears before the U.S. House Oversight Committee in Washington D.C. in March

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 18, 2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been steadfast in his defense

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Morrison only 'no' vote on resolution that allows public defenders to represent illegals outside Cook County

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 14, 2025

Last week the Cook County Board pulled off a little publicized move allowing public defenders to represent illegal aliens in immigration courts beyond the jurisdiction of the county.

City Council committee bails on payout to the family of Dexter Reed

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 14, 2025

On Monday, Chicago City Council’s Finance Committee abruptly canceled a vote to approve a $1.25 million payout to the family of Dexter Reed, the 26-year-old shot dead by police last March in Humboldt Park.

Federal judge orders police defendant in Jose Cruz wrongful conviction case to provide sample handwriting

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 10, 2025

A federal judge has ordered one of the police defendants named in the wrongful conviction lawsuit of Jose Cruz, convicted of a 1993 murder, to provide a handwriting sample for an analysis by an expert chosen by Cruz’s legal team.

Convicted murderer withdraws some claims against Chicago detectives, prosecutors in wrongful conviction suit

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 7, 2025

Exonerated murderer Nevest Coleman has backtracked on some of his claims against Chicago detectives in his wrongful conviction suit in federal court, a move one legal analyst called “very good” for Chicago police who have been named in dozens of questionable wrongful conviction suits over the past 10 years.

Suspect in Norwood Park murder could have been in federal custody, but for the city’s sanctuary law

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 6, 2025

Absent a sanctuary law in Chicago, the Ecuadorian national charged in the Jan. 26 murder of Norwood Park resident George Levin would likely have been in federal custody at the time of the murder.

Vicente Torres-Vasquez should have big target on his back for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 6, 2025

Vicente Torres-Vasquez’s criminal past should place him high on the list for deportation back to his native Mexico under the Trump administration’s immigration directives to deport those who are a threat to the public.

City’s sanctuary law puts unnecessary strain on investigation into Norwood Park murder

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 5, 2025

If the Chicago police were permitted to cooperate with federal immigration agents, they could turn two illegals, a Venezuelan and Ecuadorian, they are questioning in the Jan. 26 murder of a Norwood Park man over for detention while they gather more evidence in the case.

City attorneys reject constitutional rights violation claims of convicted murderers

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 31, 2025

City attorneys are rejecting a motion by lawyers for Gabriel Solache and Arturo DeLeon-Reyes, convicted of a 1998 double murder, for a summary judgment in their wrongful conviction case on charges that the city’s policies and practices violated their constitutional rights (Monell claims) in their alleged wrongful prosecution.

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Mayor Johnson faces heat from two sides over promise to protect illegals from deportation

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 30, 2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been called to Washington to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chaired by James Comer, R-KY, on February 11, and to turn over all documents and communications to Chicago’s sanctuary policies.

Gang-related crimes and murders of kids continue to plague Chicago

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 23, 2025

Two new studies show that Chicago continues to be vexed by gang-related crimes and the murders of those 19 and under.

Did Mayor Johnson stiff community group in sweetheart mortgage deal?

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 20, 2025

Mayor Brandon Johnson took advantage of a special mortgage deal for employees of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) in 2009 that granted first-time home buyers a $3,000 no-interest loan, records with the Cook County Clerk’s office show.

Big win for CPD in controversial exoneration case of convicted murderers

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 16, 2025

A federal judge has granted police officer defendant Mark Olszewski his motion for summary judgement (judgement before trial) in the wrongful conviction cases of Robert Almodovar and William Negron, convicted of the 1994 murders of two teenagers.

Limited cooperation with federal immigration authorities proposed under city council amendment

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 14, 2025

Sanctuary laws in Chicago and Illinois prohibit local authorities from notifying federal authorities

No approval needed from State’s Attorney for some firearms-related felonies, report says

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 13, 2025

Chicago police are charging for some firearms-related felonies in Englewood without approval from the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO), according to a CWB Chicago report.

Brand New Cook County State’s Attorney already targeted by trial lawyers and media pals

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 10, 2025

Plaintiffs’ lawyers and their allies in the mainstream media are already putting new State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke on notice not to upset the slick arrangements they had with Burke predecessor Kim Foxx when it comes to exonerations of convicted murderers.

Report: Scrapping of gang database could be behind drop in reports of gang violence

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 7, 2025

The loss of a gang database administered by the Chicago Police Department could at least partially explain lower gang violence figures.

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