Politics

Judge: Stroger Can't Fire Public Defender Burnette

Just Cause To Dismiss Burnette Has Not Been Shown, Says Judge Daniel Riley

CHICAGO (STNG) ― Cook County Board President Todd Stroger cannot remove Public Defender Ed Burnette from his job next week, a judge ruled Friday.

Stroger had set a removal hearing for Wednesday before the full County Board, but Judge Daniel Riley said there are too many questions about the way Stroger has conducted the proceedings so far and whether Stroger has adequately shown there's "just cause" to remove Burnette, who is in the fifth year of a six-year term.

Stroger provided a handful of reasons for Burnette's removal, all pointing to a lack of ability to manage his office, which provides defense counsel in criminal cases for the poor.

Burnette has argued he wasn't properly notified of Stroger's removal plans, has no idea what the proper procedure is for the hearing and can refute Stroger's claims point by point.

Riley said Burnette has "a likelihood of success" in the case, then set a hearing for next Friday to further determine if Stroger should be permanently blocked from removing Burnette. But already Stroger is vowing an appeal.

The ruling caused a heated argument outside the courtroom between Burnette's attorney, William Hooks, and Stroger's, Burt Odelson.

"Don't point at me," Hooks boomed toward Odelson, later adding, "I'm not your boy."

"Don't walk away from me," Odelson sternly said back.

That marks the second outburst the two have had in this case. A screaming match erupted at a closed-door County Board committee hearing, sources said, as commissioners debated whether to approve paying Hooks' bills.

That committee approved paying him, but it must pass the full board next week.

(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2006. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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