Opening statements in the corruption trial of ex-Chicago Ald. Edward M. Burke have been delayed a week after an attorney in the case tested positive for COVID-19.
U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall said two other lawyers in the case also aren’t feeling well. As a result, she said she’d have to put the trial on hold until Nov. 16.
The judge and the lawyers still haven’t finished jury selection in the highly anticipated case. Thirty-eight potential jurors had survived questioning by Wednesday afternoon. Nine more needed to make it through the process without being struck for cause to round out the panel once lawyers exercise peremptory strikes.
Kendall intended to push lawyers to finish jury selection by lunchtime Thursday. Now the trial is on hold entirely. The lawyers who came to court Thursday were all wearing face masks. So was Burke.
That said, no proceedings were expected to take place Friday in observance of Veterans Day. The trial was also expected to be on hold Tuesday and Wednesday due to a scheduling issue with the judge.
Burke’s trial is expected to last six weeks. The slow jury selection and COVID delay threaten to push the trial deep into the holiday season. Also on trial with Burke are his political aide, Peter Andrews, and developer Charles Cui.
Burke is accused of using his seat on the City Council to steer business to his private law firm amid schemes that involved Chicago’s Old Post Office, a Burger King at 41st and Pulaski, and a Binny’s Beverage Depot on the Northwest Side. He is also accused of threatening to block an admission fee increase at the Field Museum because it didn’t respond when he recommended his goddaughter for an internship.
