Madigan Conviction Upheld
Former House Speaker Michael Madigan leaves the Dirksen Federal Building in 2024. (Photo: Chicago Tribune)
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the corruption conviction against former House Speaker Michael Madigan Monday.
From the Chicago Sun-Times:
A three-judge panel summarily dismissed arguments from the once-powerful Democrat’s lawyers in a 29-page opinion less than three weeks after hearing oral arguments. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling could soon lead to a bid by Madigan to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Michael Madigan spent nearly a decade leveraging his power as one of the highest-ranking public officials in Illinois in exchange for over $3 million of financial benefits for his close political allies,” Judge Michael Scudder wrote. “…Madigan insists that this was run-of-the-mill politics. But a jury of twelve Illinois residents saw the evidence differently. So do we.”
Madigan’s attorneys did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. Though they’re expected to eventually turn to the Supreme Court, they’ll likely first take the interim step of seeking another hearing before the full appeals court.
The ruling stands in stark contrast to what happened earlier this month in the related appeal of former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore and longtime lobbyist Michael McClain. A separate panel freed the pair hours after hearing arguments April 14.
But Pramaggiore and McClain were convicted at trial in 2023. Another jury convicted Madigan in 2025. In 2024, the year between the convictions, the Supreme Court handed down a decision limiting the reach of a bribery law that’s key to each case.
As a result, there are different legal issues at play.
It only took the Appeals Court 16 days to reject Madigan’s appeal, which is pretty wild. Madigan’s new legal team is built around attorneys with deep Supreme Court experience, so expect them to put the full court press on to get the high court to take the case.
