- Two law professors who focus on police accountability have filed a motion opposing Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s move to erase a federal jury’s recent finding that a “code of silence” exists in the Chicago Police Department.
The professors from the University of Chicago and Northwestern University law schools filed the motion late Tuesday seeking to intervene in the case involving the infamous videotaped beating of a female bartender by an off-duty officer. They want to submit written arguments “addressing the public’s interest in ensuring that the city not be permitted to ‘buy its way out of this judgment.’”
Lawyer’s for Emanuel’s administration filed a joint motion with former bartender Karolina Obrycka on Monday, asking U.S. District Court Judge Amy St. Eve to set aside the jury’s Nov. 13 verdict in favor of Obrycka. She Öwould be paid the $850,000 award she won in the trial without fear of losing an appeal, and the city has said removing the judgment that a code of silence exists would help them defend against other police misconduct lawsuits.
We're sure their intentions are completely noble and altruistic, right?
- The law professors, Craig Futterman of the University of Chicago and Locke Bowman of Northwestern, both have brought numerous misconduct cases against the Police Department during their careers. Futterman currently represents clients in a suit related to the department’s defunct Special Operations Section, and has said the code of silence judgment could aid his case.
Oh, it's the cash again. Nevermind.
Perhaps someone could point out that the supposed "code of silence" always seems to originate at or above the rank of lieutenant and is supported by numerous gold stars?