John Rekowski News Today

A judge found him fit to stand trial on Tuesday, a year after he was found unfit and sent to Chester Mental Health Center for treatment.

If there's one regret attorney Tim Berkley has in a career that's included defending clients accused of the most heinous crimes, prosecuting juveniles as young as 10 and drafting appellate court rulings on a team of accomplished writers, it's that the man who threw him a lifeline during desperate times didn't live long enough to see him graduate law school.

Last January, Illinois legislators changed the states felony murder statute as part of the landmark criminal justice reform bill known as the SAFE-T Act. But it didnt apply the reform retroactively.

The felony murder rule allows prosecutors to bring murder charges against anyone who participates in committing certain felonies if a death happens during the crime. The doctrine applies even if

CHICAGO -- Gerald Berry is serving a life sentence for murder, even though he didnt kill anyone.

CHICAGO (AP) — Gerald Berry is serving a life sentence for murder, even though he...

Gerald Berry is serving a life sentence for murder, even though he didn’t kill anyone.

A 30-year-old Missouri man will face a jury next week in the murder of a prominent Edwardsville attorney and philanthropist.

House Bill 3653, authored by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, was passed by the General Assembly last month. "Its February, and were celebrating Black History Month. Black History is about monumental moments and movements that serve as catalysts for change. Today is both," said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton. "Ive come to realize that one of the best ways to celebrate black history is by doing everything that we can to protect black futures and House Bill 3653 aims to do just that." Part of t...

County panel declines help from pastor Scott Cousins, scousins@thetelegraph.com FacebookTwitterEmail 3of3 EDWARDSVILLE — A local prisoner advocate spoke to the Madison County Board’s Judiciary Committee about providing help for the Public Defender’s Office, but was not given an overly warm reception. The Rev. Danny Holliday — the brother of Madison County Board Member Michael “Doc” Holliday, D-Alton — had asked the full Madison County Board about the possibility of providing assi...