Illinois quick hits: Senator’s deferred prosecution deal approved; Indiana Senate votes against new maps

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Senator’s deferred prosecution deal approved

U.S. District Court Judge Andrea Wood has approved a deferred prosecution agreement to resolve the bribery case against Illinois state Sen. Emil Jones III, D-Chicago.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the one-year deal requires Jones to make some admissions but could spare him from a conviction.

The agreement comes after Wood declared a mistrial last April when a jury deadlocked on all three counts against Jones.

More retired judges assigned

Chief Justice P. Scott Neville, Jr. and the Supreme Court of Illinois announced the recall and assignment of eight retired circuit court judges from Cook, Will, and Pope counties to address a shortage of judges in the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Six of the retired judges previously served in Cook County.

The assignment of the recalled judges will begin on Dec. 15, 2025, and conclude on Dec. 7, 2026.

Indiana Senate votes against new maps

The Indiana Senate has voted 31 to 19 against new congressional maps favored by President Donald Trump.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday that the Illinois legislature would not “stand idly by” if Indiana moved to redistrict.

The Illinois congressional maps signed by Pritzker in 2021 received a failing grade of “F” from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project.

Indiana’s current maps received an “A.”