Despite a tarnished reputation courtesy of a federal corruption conviction last December, former Ald. Edward Burke is holding on to his Illinois law license after the state's Supreme Court hit a procedural wall. With four of its seven justices stepping back due to conflicts of interest, the court couldn't muster the quorum needed to decide on Burke’s legal career fate, CBS News reports.
According to a CBS News report, the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) had sought to suspend Burke’s license following his conviction on racketeering and bribery charges. Traditionally, such censures are standard protocol for lawyers found on the wrong side of the law. Yet, in this instance the court's hands were effectively tied, rendering the push for suspension into a quagmire of judicial standstill.
Further complicating matters, a lack of succession since February on the seven-member court suggests a similar recusal scenario may play out again post-sentencing, as detailed by the Chicago Sun-Times. Still, the outcomes seem murky. While currently tangled in legal proceedings, Burke can seek reinstatement as a lawyer if he so chooses, despite his recent—and somewhat reluctant—transition to retirement status.
Burke's conviction encompassed an array of extortion and bribery schemes—criminal activities cloaked in the veneer of public service. He pressured businesses into employing his private property tax law firm using his political influence. High-profile cogs in these schemes included the Old Post Office, a Burger King restaurant, Binny's Beverage Depot, and the Field Museum. The fallout from such deeds are charges that could see Burke facing up to 20 years for the most egregious of these counts, reports CBS News.
As it now stands, Burke’s legal status remains in a state of limbo. He's neither practicing law nor formally stripped of the privilege to do so. “It would be preposterous to do so given that he’s 80 years old, he’s not ever going to practice again, and he’s facing criminal sentencing,” Burke’s defense lawyer, Chris Gair, told the Chicago Sun-Times. Whether or not the court will reassess its stance post-sentencing is a question left to be answered under the shadow of potential further recusals.
