WBEZ takes us inside the appeals court where one of the Independent Caucus' first fights is being waged. Earlier this year, journalist Jamie Kalven and 28 aldermen -- many affiliated with or pushed by the Independent Caucus -- petitioned a federal court to make public the list of 662 Chicago police officers who had amassed more than 10 citizen complaints between May 2001 and May 2006. While city attorneys argue that publicizing the complaints would complicate future lawsuits filed against the city, their opponents contend the names are needed to show that the police department is ineffective at investigating allegations of misconduct and rooting out rogue cops. Alderman Toni Preckwinkle (4th Ward) agrees:
"It's important for us to have information about who those troubled officers are so that we can take whatever action we need to with our local commanders and with the superintendent of police."
Unfortunately, the appeal appeared to hit a roadblock yesterday. WBEZ reports that the three judge-panel on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals wasn't too interested in hearing the arguments for releasing the names:
Jon Loevy is among a group of attorneys fighting for the information to be made public. That fight is taking place in the appeals court. Loevy got only part way through his first sentence yesterday before he was interrupted by circuit court judge Michael Kanne.
LOEVY: With due respect your honors, this is not an unusual...
KANNE: Never start out that way because you mean you don't have respect.
It will be several months before the court returns its ruling. You can listen to the oral arguments in their entirety here. Also, for more background, be sure to check out Preckwinkle's Progress Illinois column on the subject here, as well as this piece written by Kalven shortly after the city denied the aldermen's request for the documents.
[Full disclosure: Jamie Kalven is the father of Progress Illinois editor Josh Kalven]
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