Jeanne Kuang, Reporter at Injustice Watch

2018 Retention

Defense attorneys contend Cook County judge seeking retention showed bias

As he seeks retention, Cook County Circuit Judge Michael McHale faces questions about his conduct handling a series of criminal trials. Defense attorneys in one contend he engaged in improper contacts with prosecutors.

by Jeanne Kuang, Caroline Riordan and Duohao Xu September 20, 2018December 5, 2023

Katrina Burlet speaks at a press conference with small crowd of supporters behind her

Illinois Prisons

Illinois prison officials quashed First Amendment rights, lawsuit says

A lawsuit contends the Illinois Department of Corrections halted a debate program not for security, but because prisoners had found a way to raise concerns with legislators and other state officials.

by Jeanne Kuang and Emily Hoerner August 28, 2018December 5, 2023

Parole and Clemency

Records of Illinois parole board show just how rarely inmates win release

Getting voting records of the members of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board dating back to 2013 was no easy task. Those records reveal a system in which aging prisoners locked up at least 40 years have almost no chance of winning support for their release from the board members, a majority of whom have denied about four of every five cases.

by Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang July 27, 2018December 5, 2023

Criminal Courts

Cook County judge rules she lacks power to find cash bail unconstitutional

Coalition of reform groups hoped to win ruling that cash bail system discriminated against pre-trial detainees held because they could not make bail, while wealthier defendants walked free before trial. But Cook County Chancery judge concludes the lawsuit was asking for relief that was beyond her authority to grant.

by Jeanne Kuang June 28, 2018December 5, 2023

Police

Chicago police gang database is error-prone, discriminatory, lawsuit says

A group of four residents and six community groups took the City to court on Tuesday, contending that the Chicago police department gang database includes residents simply based on their race or neighborhood. And the results are steep, the lawsuit says, impacting police stops, immigration relief, and bail consideration.

by Jeanne Kuang June 19, 2018December 5, 2023

Left: Cyntoia Brown in an undated photo in prison; right: the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati

Less than Life

U.S. Appeals Court hears arguments on youth sentence of 51 years before parole

Was Cyntoia Brown, convicted of murder at age 16 and given a sentence that would make her eligible for release at age 67, given an unconstitutional life sentence?

by Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang June 15, 2018December 5, 2023

Less than Life

Illinois high court to consider how much time is too much for youth crime

The Illinois Supreme Court will consider whether a sentence of 50 years without parole for a 16-year-old violates the state and federal constitutions. Courts nationwide and in Illinois have struggled with where to draw the line for crimes committed by juveniles.

by Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang June 4, 2018December 5, 2023

Illinois Prisons

Stalled Stateville prison debate class members demand program’s return

Supporters of the debate class at the Stateville Correctional Center, a program correction department officials abruptly suspended last month, delivered a letter Wednesday to Governor Bruce Rauner’s office demanding the program’s reinstatement and an executive order granting legislators access to prison facilities.

by Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang May 30, 2018December 5, 2023

Illinois Prisons

After prisoners debate parole before Illinois lawmakers, state halts class

Last month, Illinois Department of Corrections officials abruptly suspended a popular debate class for inmates at Stateville Correctional Center that had brought in an audience legislators and state officials. Corrections officials offered no explanation of the decision to Injustice Watch.

by Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang May 29, 2018December 5, 2023

Judges

Brocton Lockwood, judge and mole in Cook County corruption case, dies

The retired judge from Southern Illinois wore a wire in Chicago in the 1970s and 1980s to aid Operation Greylord, a federal investigation into Cook County’s judicial corruption.

by Jeanne Kuang May 24, 2018December 5, 2023

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