Camera crews are wandering in front of the Dirksen courthouse downtown. Reporters and photographers are huddled inside the media "bull pen" inside the building.
And, 90 minutes before the arraignment of Rod Blagojevich and his brother is even set to start, the courtroom on the 25th floor is already filling up.
Blagojevich and his brother, Robert Blagojevich will face charges today in a wide-ranging indictment that was returned April 2. They're likely to plead not guilty in front of U.S. District Judge James Zagel and each is expected to make comments to the media before leaving the building.
But today is really about the circus of the event. It's the first time the ex-governor will enter the building since his spectacular Dec. 9 arrest -- when he showed up in a jogging suit and left escorted by his security. Today, he'll enter the building as a private citizen, as he was ousted from public office earlier this year. Courtroom security, in preparing for Blagojevich and ordering that no special arrangements would be made on his behalf, referred to him as MR. Blagojevich. Emphasis added.