Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan asks U.S. Supreme Court to hear his corruption case
<p>Former Illinois House Speaker <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news" target="_blank" >Michael J. Madigan</a> took the long-awaited step Wednesday of asking the nation’s highest court to hear an appeal of the historic corruption conviction that could keep him behind bars until he is nearly 90 years old.</p><p>The move comes three months after the federal appeals court in Chicago <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news/2026/04/27/illinois-madigan-comed-corruption-speaker-house" target="_blank" >upheld Madigan’s</a> February 2025 conviction, finding that trial evidence “exposed a sustained and concealed arrangement to exchange enormous political influence within the Illinois General Assembly for over $3 million of benefit for political allies.”</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news/mike-madigan-guilty-verdict" >Once a political giant, Madigan now a convicted felon and likely prison inmate — but not a racketeer</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>Madigan’s lawyers want the U.S.
Reported by 1 outlet — Chicago Sun-Times. See all sources ↓
<p>Former Illinois House Speaker <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news" target="_blank" >Michael J. Madigan</a> took the long-awaited step Wednesday of asking the nation’s highest court to hear an appeal of the historic corruption conviction that could keep him behind bars until he is nearly 90 years old.</p><p>The move comes three months after the federal appeals court in Chicago <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news/2026/04/27/illinois-madigan-comed-corruption-speaker-house" target="_blank" >upheld Madigan’s</a> February 2025 conviction, finding that trial evidence “exposed a sustained and concealed arrangement to exchange enormous political influence within the Illinois General Assembly for over $3 million of benefit for political allies.”</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news/mike-madigan-guilty-verdict" >Once a political giant, Madigan now a convicted felon and likely prison inmate — but not a racketeer</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>Madigan’s lawyers want the U.S. Supreme Court to grapple with key legal questions from his case, including when a public official acts “corruptly” and whether an alleged promise to make a job recommendation qualifies as an “official act.”</p><p>“The novel bribery theories the government zealously pursued against Speaker Madigan stretch federal bribery law in ways that threaten to criminalize and chill lawful interactions between state and local officials and their constituents,” Madigan’s lawyers told the justices in their petition.</p><p>Madigan’s legal team includes Lisa Blatt, a well-known high court litigator who claims an 82% win rate before the Supreme Court. She <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news/2026/04/09/madigan-corruption-conviction-appeal-federal-7th-circuit" target="_blank" >attended arguments</a> in Madigan’s case before the 7th U.S.
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- What's the story?
- <p>Former Illinois House Speaker <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news" target="_blank" >Michael J. Madigan</a> took the long-awaited step Wednesday of asking the nation’s highest court to hear an appeal of the historic corruption conviction that could keep him behind bars until he is nearly 90 years old.</p><p>The move comes three months after the federal appeals court in Chicago <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news/2026/04/27/illinois-madigan-comed-corruption-speaker-house" target="_blank" >upheld Madigan’s</a> February 2025 conviction, finding that trial evidence “exposed a sustained and concealed arrangement to exchange enormous political influence within the Illinois General Assembly for over $3 million of benefit for political allies.”</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-center> <div class="RelatedList-title">Related</div> <ul class="RelatedList-items"> <li class="RelatedList-items-item"> <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/madigan-trial-news/mike-madigan-guilty-verdict" >Once a political giant, Madigan now a convicted felon and likely prison inmate — but not a racketeer</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>Madigan’s lawyers want the U.S.
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- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
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- 17m ago.
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Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan asks U.S. Supreme Court to hear his corruption case
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times