Michael Higgins
All Stories

Clean slate for compliance chief
The city's new hiring regulator held his first ethics training session for Mayor Richard Daley's cabinet Thursday, the same day a federal court ordered the mayor's former patronage chief to...

Judge hit over bond court call
A McHenry County judge violated ethics rules last summer when he held bond court on a Saturday so a political ally's brother wouldn't have to spend the weekend in jail,...

Group: Juveniles’ life terms unfair
In a move that angered victims rights advocates, a coalition of lawyers and academics on Wednesday called on Illinois to abolish sentences for juveniles of life in prison without the...

Cook officials say court system near ‘meltdown’
Cook County's top prosecutor and public defender -- opponents in so many cases -- made a unified plea Thursday, lambasting budget cuts they say have stretched their offices to the...

Public defenders join budget-cuts lawsuit
The union that represents Cook County's assistant public defenders said Tuesday it plans to join in a unusual lawsuit that challenges budget cuts affecting their office. The cuts threaten the...

Federal judge in Chicago picked for key Justice job
The Bush administration on Thursday nominated a federal judge in Chicago to the No. 2 post at the Justice Department under new Atty Gen. Michael Mukasey. The move requires U.S....

Ryan ride’s last stop: Prison
On Wednesday, there was no deal former Gov. George Ryan could cut. There was no one to cajole, and no backroom compromise to be struck. After a long drive from...

Ryan reaches end of road: Prison
On Wednesday, there was no deal former Gov. George Ryan could cut. There was no one to cajole, and no backroom compromise to be struck. After a long drive from...

No fences, no violence, no privacy
When he reports Wednesday to the Oxford federal prison camp as inmate 16627-424, former Gov. George Ryan will be issued a pair of steel-toe shoes, a few button-down shirts and...

No fences, no violence, no privacy
When he reports Wednesday to the Oxford federal prison camp as inmate 16627-424, former Gov. George Ryan will be issued a pair of steel-toe shoes, a few button-down shirts and...
