A federal judge has rejected a request by crooked cop Anthony Doyle to reconsider his decision to keep Doyle locked up until his sentencing next year.
U.S. District Judge James Zagel decided Doyle was a danger to the community.
And a recent plea by Doyle's legal team, led by Ralph Meczyk, didn't change his mind.
The argument centered on Doyle's loyalty to Frank Calabrese Sr.
Zagel found that Doyle had an unfailing loyalty to Calabrese Sr. and questioned whether the safety of some of the witnesses against Calabrese Sr. would be at risk if Doyle were released.
Doyle provided inside information to Calabrese Sr. while the mob killer was in prison. Doyle worked in an evidence warehouse for the Chicago Police Department and told Calabrese Sr. details about the FBI's interest in evidence that was part of a mob hit committed by Frank Calabrese Sr.'s brother, Nicholas.
Meczyk said Doyle and Calabrese Sr. are far from being the best of friends. The attorney said Doyle and Calabrese Sr. were only passingly polite t o one another in court.
But Zagel was not swayed, and Doyle will remain behind bars for a few months before sentencing.
Thanks for doing this blog. As a nearby resident (South Bend, IN.) it is very interesting to me to keep tabs on what is going on in Chicago. A wonderful city!
Steve,
What effect do you think the ruling in the Aaron Patterson case will have on Doyle's motion for a mistrial?
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: I can't believe the judge is eager to redo the Family Secrets trial.
That said, all the defendants, except Calabrese Sr., either have or will ask for a new trial based on Calabrese Sr.'s antics during the trial.
The difference between what Calabrese Sr. did at trial and Patterson did at his drug and gun trial is pronounced.
Patterson actually knocked down his attorneys and was, believe it or not, much more disruptive.
Expect the prosecution in Family Secrets to highlight those differences, while the defense attorneys are likely to stress the underlying principal.
They'll argue that just as there was no way for Patterson's co-defendant to get a fair trial with Patterson's antics, there was no way for co-defendants for Calabrese Sr. to get a fair trial.
" can't believe the judge is eager to redo the Family Secrets trial"
I'm sure you're right, but won't it be up to the Appellate Court?
"Patterson actually knocked down his attorneys and was, believe it or not, much more disruptive"
But Frank Sr was heard, by at least one juror, threatening the life of one of the prosecutors. And how many of the jurors heard or saw Sr laughing and making faces during his brother's incredulous testimony? Couple those facts with the fact the the defense wasn't allowed to voir doir the jury, and I can't see how all the defendants, minus Calabrese Sr, can't be granted new trials.
When all is said and done, wouldn't it be appalling that after all the time and money spent on the Family Secrets trial to find that only the Calabrese brothers and Deputy Marshall Ambrose are the only ones still behind bars?
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: It may eventually be up to the appellate court to decide it, but Judge Zagel gets first crack at the issue, as the defendants file their motions for new trials with him.
If he denies the motions, then it will be up to the appellate court, as the defense attorneys will certainly appeal.
I'm not diminishing Frank Calabrese Sr.'s antics in the courtroom. In my initial gloss on the issue, I didn't mention his verbal confrontation of his son, Kurt, from the witness stand, nor did I note the faces he made as well as the comments he uttered during testimony, some of them audible.
He definitely acted up, but it didn't rise to the level of violence that Patterson engaged in.
BTW,
Merry Christmas
STEVE WARMBIR RESPONDS: Merry Christmas to you, and happy holidays to all the kind readers of The Outfit on Trial blog.