The judge assigned to the Richard Vanecko case assured both sides earlier this week that he could be fair and impartial, despite his long history as a prosecutor, and his ties to former Mayor Daley.
FOX 32 News has now learned that at least one of the parties in the case is satisfied with his assurances and won't be seeking another judge.
Richard Vanecko's appearance in court earlier this week was fairly routine, until Judge Arthur Hill decided to make some disclosures regarding his own past.
Vanecko is charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of 21-year-old David Koschman. Prosecutors say Vanecko punched the Mount Prospect man during a late night argument on Division Street. Koschman died eleven days later.
Vanecko is the nephew of former Mayor Richard M. and Judge Hill disclosed that he had worked under Daley as a state's attorney. He also said Daley had later appointed him to the CTA board and that he had done some municipal bond work when Daley was mayor. And while Judge Hill did not disclose it on Monday, he also appeared in a campaign commercial endorsing Daley when Daley first ran for mayor.
The Judge told both sides he could be impartial, but gave them until next week to indicate whether they would ask him to recuse himself from the case.
On Wednesday, Marc Martin, one of Vanekco's defense attorneys, told FOX 32's Larry Yellen, "We don't intend to seek recusal. We accept Judge Hill's assurance that he can be fair and that's good enough for us."
Dan Webb, the special prosecutor on the case, did not return our calls. Law Professor Len Cavise says it's the prosecution that's more likely to ask the judge to withdraw.
"They're much more sensitive to the appearance of impropriety, and if they get a conviction, they want to make sure it gets preserved in the court of appeals," says Cavise.
It's also the prosecution that's more likely to be concerned about Judge Hill having ties to former Mayor Daley.
Saturday, May 25 2013 10:50 AM EDT2013-05-25 14:50:09 GMT
The tornado that struck Oklahoma on Monday took a devastating toll in the number of lives lost and property destroyed. But amidst the anguish and destruction there is another heart-wrenching tragedy.
The tornado that struck Oklahoma on Monday took a devastating toll in the number of lives lost and property destroyed. But amidst the anguish and destruction there is another "heart-wrenching" tragedy -- displaced pets.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Saturday, May 25 2013 11:04 AM EDT2013-05-25 15:04:24 GMT
City residents sick of coupons piling up on their front doorsteps filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month urging the Chicago Tribune and Valassis Communications to stop distributing the mailings.
City residents sick of coupons piling up on their front doorsteps filed a civil lawsuit earlier this month urging the Chicago Tribune and Valassis Communications to stop distributing the mailings on their properties.
Saturday, May 25 2013 10:50 AM EDT2013-05-25 14:50:09 GMT
The tornado that struck Oklahoma on Monday took a devastating toll in the number of lives lost and property destroyed. But amidst the anguish and destruction there is another heart-wrenching tragedy.
The tornado that struck Oklahoma on Monday took a devastating toll in the number of lives lost and property destroyed. But amidst the anguish and destruction there is another "heart-wrenching" tragedy -- displaced pets.
Saturday, May 25 2013 10:18 AM EDT2013-05-25 14:18:44 GMT
A wrongful death lawsuit was filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of an Aurora attorney who died of medical complications following a 2012 single-engine plane crash in Florida.
A wrongful death lawsuit was filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court on behalf of an Aurora attorney who died of medical complications following a 2012 single-engine plane crash in Florida.
Friday, May 24 2013 11:00 PM EDT2013-05-25 03:00:57 GMT
An Evanston high school varsity baseball team will not play in the playoff tournament this weekend after a group of students, including team members, allegedly "sexted" risque photos to each other.
An Evanston high school varsity baseball team will not play in the playoff tournament this weekend after a group of students, including team members, allegedly "sexted" risque photos to each other.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:41 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:41:10 GMT
Jenn Gibbons embarked on a two month trip around the perimeter of Lake Michigan to raise money for the non-profit organization she founded for breast cancer survivors called Recovery on Water, or ROW.
Jenn Gibbons embarked on a two month trip around the perimeter of Lake Michigan to raise money for the non-profit organization she founded for breast cancer survivors called Recovery on Water, or ROW.
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Chicago Bears' linebacker Brian Urlacher will be out for three weeks and possibly the remainder of the season from a hamstring injury incurred from Sunday's game against Seattle, he told FOX 32 News.
Chicago Bears' linebacker Brian Urlacher will be out for three weeks and possibly the remainder of the season from a hamstring injury incurred from Sunday's game against Seattle, he told FOX 32 News.
The senior culinary arts students at Simeon Career Academy came in third at the statewide cooking competition last year. As they work on the mouth-watering concoction they hope will place first this year, the dish itself is...
The senior culinary arts students at Simeon Career Academy came in third at the statewide cooking competition last year. As they work on the mouth-watering concoction they hope will place first this year, the dish itself is...
Since the Old Joliet Prison closed its doors in 2002, cameras crews have come to capture the compound for film, but FOX Chicago News went beyond the glamor and the wrought iron.
Since the Old Joliet Prison closed its doors in 2002, cameras crews have come to capture the compound for film, but FOX Chicago News went beyond the glamor and the wrought iron.
