Chicago Area

Chicago area

• Blagojevich's onetime best friend takes stand, Chicago Sun-Times
• State's attorney sues Arlington Hts. furnace business, Daily Herald
• Robbery suspect caught counting money outside police station, Chicago Tribune

Southern Illinois

• "Justice for Tommy": Protesters at courthouse in support of abused pit bull, Belleville News-Democrat

Nation

• Ex-lawyer Rothstein gets 50-year sentence for Ponzi scheme, ABA Journal

This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day.

Central Illinois

• Pelo lawyers try to get guilty verdict overturned, Bloomington Pantagraph

Chicago area

• Judge to Blagojevich: No tweeting in court; jury sworn in, Chicago Tribune
• Chicago Teachers Union to sue over class sizes, Chicago Sun-Times
• Death penalty not sought in Oak Brook New Year's Day murder, Daily Herald
• Lawyer accused of using ethnic, sexual slurs in court, Chicago Tribune

This post is updated with breaking news throughout the day.

Justice Thomas L. Kilbride of the Illinois Supreme Court announced Monday an innovative mediation program to help ease the financial and emotional burden of homeowners, lenders and taxpayers caused by residential mortgage foreclosures. Justice Kilbride, appearing with Chief Judge Gerald R. Kinney of the Circuit Court of Will County, said the foreclosure mediation program also is aimed at keeping families in homes to prevent vacant and abandoned houses that drive down property values and destabilize neighborhoods. The Illinois Supreme Court approved the program which will operate with no additional expense to taxpayers and be sustained by an increase in filing fees paid by lenders and other plaintiffs seeking to foreclose. “This is an important step forward for those in Will County suffering the effects of our nation’s economic crisis,” said Justice Kilbride. “The Supreme Court has a keen interest in programs with the strong promise of achieving timely and lasting resolution to tough problems. “We are grateful to Chief Judge Kinney and those in the community who helped formulate the details from concept to a working model. We are hopeful it will help families cope with some of the emotional and financial burdens brought on by the current economic difficulties, and help give them a new start on their way to better times.” Chief Judge Kinney first brought the proposal to Justice Kilbride, and worked with the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, the administrative arm of the Supreme Court, to refine and finalize details. He also has discussed the plan with lawyers for lenders and debtors in the community.  He expects the program to be up and running within a month. “Obviously, this is an attempt to begin to solve a serious societal problem,” Chief Judge Kinney said. “Foreclosures are tearing up our neighborhoods and our communities. This is an effort to lend some stability to what could be a financially and emotionally chaotic process. It’s a way for the courts to help address some of these community problems.” Judge Kinney believes that Will County has a rate of foreclosure as high as any other area in the state. From June 2008 to June 2009, there were 5,541 foreclosures filed in Will County, and that number is increasing. Judge Kinney estimates that between 2,700 and 3,000 cases would be screened annually for mediation.