Madeline Buckley

Madeline Buckley is a criminal justice reporter for the Chicago Tribune covering courts and the legal system. She covers courthouses across Cook County but is usually found at "26th and Cal."

The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in one of Chicago's most closely followed low-level felony cases when attorneys for Jussie Smollett appeared before the court in Springfield seeking to overturn his convictions nearly three years after he was convicted of staging a fake hate crime.

Crime and Public Safety |
Illinois Supreme Court hears arguments in Jussie Smollett case

September 17, 2024 at 3:41 p.m.

The Illinois Supreme Court on Tuesday heard arguments in one of Chicago's most closely followed low-level felony cases when attorneys for Jussie Smollett appeared before the court in Springfield seeking...

The state’s sweeping bail reform measure took effect one year ago on this coming Wednesday, eliminating money as a factor in whether a defendant is released from prison while awaiting trial and ushering in broad changes in how pretrial justice is handled.

Crime and Public Safety |
‘The sky did not fall’: One year into Illinois’ historic bail reform, officials reflect, examine the data

September 16, 2024 at 10:09 a.m.

The state’s sweeping bail reform measure took effect one year ago on this coming Wednesday, eliminating money as a factor in whether a defendant is released from prison while awaiting...

A judge sentenced a man to life in prison Wednesday for shooting and killing Chicago police Officer Ella French and injuring her partner, marking an emotional end to the case months after jurors viewed harrowing body camera footage throughout a weeklong trial.

Crime and Public Safety |
Man convicted of killing Officer Ella French and wounding her partner is sentenced to life in prison

September 11, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

A judge sentenced a man to life in prison Wednesday for shooting and killing Chicago police Officer Ella French and injuring her partner, marking an emotional end to the case...

More than 30 years after 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio's father found her stabbed to death on the family's porch, a convicted serial killer dubbed the "Hollywood ripper" appeared in a Cook County courtroom Friday for the first time to stand trial on charges of murder in the Glenview teen's 1993 slaying.

Crime and Public Safety |
Convicted serial killer known as ‘Hollywood Ripper’ to stand trial for 1993 Pacaccio murder

September 6, 2024 at 6:13 p.m.

More than 30 years after 18-year-old Tricia Pacaccio's father found her stabbed to death on the family's porch, a convicted serial killer dubbed the "Hollywood ripper" appeared in a Cook...

A former Cook County assistant state's attorney whose tenure heading a unit that investigated possible wrongful convictions became embroiled in controversy is suing State's Attorney Kim Foxx and her office, alleging she was discriminated against when she was demoted and then fired last year.

Crime and Public Safety |
Former assistant state’s attorney who headed wrongful conviction unit amid scrutiny sues Kim Foxx alleging discrimination

September 4, 2024 at 2:14 p.m.

A former Cook County assistant state's attorney whose tenure heading a unit that investigated possible wrongful convictions became embroiled in controversy is suing State's Attorney Kim Foxx and her office,...

Cook County prosecutors have charged one person with murder after four people were shot to death Monday morning at the Forest Park Blue Line station, according to Forest Park police.

Crime and Public Safety |
‘Horrific, heinous, inexplicable’: Charges filed in shooting deaths of four on CTA Blue Line

September 4, 2024 at 12:28 p.m.

Cook County prosecutors have charged one person with murder after four people were shot to death Monday morning at the Forest Park Blue Line station, according to Forest Park police.

A Cook County judge who controversially banned a law clerk from the county's main courthouse for using a cell phone in her courtroom will undergo training and mentoring, officials said.

Crime and Public Safety |
Cook County judge who implemented controversial courthouse ban over cellphone ordered to undergo training

August 28, 2024 at 11:36 a.m.

A Cook County judge who controversially banned a law clerk from the county's main courthouse for using a cell phone in her courtroom will undergo training and mentoring, officials said.

After a tense night of protests that turned briefly violent, the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago saw a different group of about 400 demonstrators gather against U.S. support of Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza.

Politics |
DNC sees third day of protests as Chicago’s top cop blasts demonstrators who confronted officers at Israeli consulate

August 23, 2024 at 5:51 p.m.

After a tense night of protests that turned briefly violent, the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago saw a different group of about 400 demonstrators gather against...

Two people among those arrested after the breach of a security fence near the Democratic National Convention site appeared in court Tuesday, while police brass praised their response to the situation and continued to address other threats.

Politics |
First DNC arrestees appear in court as police leaders praise response to security breach

August 20, 2024 at 9:00 p.m.

Two people among those arrested after the breach of a security fence near the Democratic National Convention site appeared in court Tuesday, while police brass praised their response to the...

Two Chicago police officers and a former Cook County assistant state's attorney participated for more than two years in a scheme to rack up more than $100,000 in fraudulent overtime pay for the police officers, special prosecutors alleged Thursday.

Crime and Public Safety |
Chicago police officers, former ASA charged in alleged overtime scheme that bilked city out of more than $100,000

August 15, 2024 at 1:27 p.m.

Two Chicago police officers and a former Cook County assistant state's attorney participated for more than two years in a scheme to rack up more than $100,000 in fraudulent overtime...

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