Judge rejects request for mistrial

The trial of ex-Ald. Ed Burke has been poised to become a landmark in Chicago’s political history, with Judge Virginia Kendall recently rejecting the defense’s request for a mistrial. Defense attorneys were concerned that the jury has been tainted by a comment made by a witness that indicated suspicion of Burke’s activity. However, Judge Kendall felt that the jury would be able to follow her instructions to ignore the remark.

This situation has arisen in the midst of a trial that has been going on for eight days, with much more testimony yet to come. The uproar came from a comment made by an Amtrak executive during a trial about a controversial property tax appeal that had been spearheaded by Burke. The remark, which was swiftly ordered stricken by Judge Kendall, led to the defense’s request for a mistrial. However, prosecutors argued that this was excessive. The trial involves not only Burke, but also two co-defendants, Peter Andrews Jr. and Charles Cui.

Burke, who served as alderman for 54 years before departing in May, is charged with a multitude of offenses, including racketeering, attempted extortion, and using interstate commerce to facilitate unlawful activity. This trial will be crucial in determining Burke’s political legacy and the larger political landscape of Chicago. Although it’s likely that Kendall will not grant a mistrial, this incident will certainly be a point of contention during the legal proceedings.