Illinois Quick Hits: Madigan Asks To Remain Free Pending Conviction Appeal

By Jim Talamonti, The Center Square

July 15, 2025

Madigan asks to remain free pending conviction appeal

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is asking Judge John Robert Blakey to let him avoid prison while his attorneys appeal his corruption conviction.

Madigan’s attorneys described what they called “errors” by the court and insisted that Madigan would not flee Illinois.

The former speaker and Democratic Party of Illinois chair is scheduled to begin serving a 7.5 year prison term Oct. 13.

Raoul joins education funding freeze lawsuit

An estimated $219 million in federal education funding for Illinois is being frozen, according to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

Illinois joined a lawsuit with 22 other states suing the Trump administration for withholding $6.8 billion in funding.

The U.S. Department of Education told states in an email that the department would not be “issuing obligating funds” for six formula funding programs.

Pritzker appoints Martin, Hayden

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has named Christopher Thor Martin as inspector general at the Illinois Department of Human Services.

Martin was named deputy inspector general for the department last year and previously was a Cook County assistant state’s attorney.

Pritzker also appointed CNA Insurance vice president Dionne Hayden to chair the Illinois Gaming Board.

The focus of the work of The Center Square Illinois is state- and local-level government and economic reporting that approaches stories with a taxpayer sensibility. For more stories from The Center Square, visit TheCenterSquare.com.