Potential jurors in the trial of ex-House speaker Michael Madigan have begun to fill out questionnaires, the first step in selecting a panel to determine Madigan’s fate.
With their arrival, the biggest Illinois public corruption trial in more than a decade has officially – albeit quietly – begun.
Madigan, the Southwest Side Democrat who reigned over state politics as the “Velvet Hammer,” is charged along with lobbyist Michael McClain in a wide-ranging racketeering indictment alleging they used their political operation for personal gain. Both men have pleaded not guilty; the trial is expected to last through December.
More than 1,000 jury summons were sent out to residents across Northeast Illinois. The “vast majority” could not be available for a trial as long as Madigan’s, U.S District Judge John Robert Blakey said in court last week.
But 180 prospective jurors are expected to answer questions this week, beginning Tuesday with a lengthy questionnaire. In-person questioning is expected to begin Wednesday. If the full panel of 12 jurors and 6 alternates is selected in time, they will hear opening statements Oct. 15.