The jury is expected to deliver a verdict soon in the corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. DePaul University has experts available to provide commentary on a number of topics related to developments in the trial as they unfold. Here are a few of DePaul’s experts:

Len Cavise, professor, DePaul College of Law. Cavise is a noted criminal defense attorney with expertise in areas such as evidence and criminal procedure. Cavise can discuss the evidence prosecutors are using to make their case against the governor, conspiracy theory laws and criminal procedure. “The governor is an old-fashioned crook in a post-modern world—a child playing an adult’s game,” said Cavise. “Unfortunately, to prove criminality, the government needs more evidence than just Blagojevich spouting off about what he would like to do.”  Cavise can be reached at (708) 704-5965 or lacavise@depaul.edu.

Andrea D. Lyon, clinical professor of law, DePaul College of Law. Attorney for former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, Lyon can discuss legal strategy, criminal procedure and evidence. She can be reached at (312) 362-8402 or alyon1@depaul.edu.

Michael Mezey, political science professor and editor of The Journal of Politics. He can address the impact of the Blagojevich trial on Illinois politics. "The trial outcome will have zero effect on the November elections. Blagojevich has done his damage to the Democratic Party label, and nothing out of the trial will make that better or worse. For Democrats, the most important thing is that the trial be over before Labor Day," he said. Mezey can be reached at (773) 325-7318 or mmezey@depaul.edu.
 

Bruce Newman,  professor of marketing, College of Commerce.   Newman is an expert in the areas of  political image making and marketing and advertising. He can discuss the role of public relations before and during the trial, the impact of public opinion on the defense team’s legal strategy, Blagojevich’s image management strategy and political marketing in the reality television era. “It is clear that Blagojevich’s legal team attempted to win over potential jurors in the court of public opinion.  Unfortunately for him, we are witnessing a movement against the ‘political insider.’” Newman can be reached at (312) 362-5186, (847) 987-6932 (cell) or bnewman@depaul.edu.

Jeffrey Shaman, professor, DePaul College of Law. Shaman is a constitutional scholar and noted authority on the First Amendment. He can discuss any constitutional issues that arise in the trial.  He can be reached at (312) 362-8143, (847) 328-3864 or jshaman@depaul.edu.

Mike Conklin, journalism instructor, College of Communication. A longtime reporter for the Chicago Tribune, Conklin can discuss the role that media will play in the trial, especially given the amount of media face time Blagojevich has received since his  indictment. “The increase in news platforms is likely to turn this trial into one of the biggest media circuses in Chicago history, a rivaling the Chicago Black Sox and Al Capone proceedings in interest and surpassing George Ryan in volume,” Conklin said. He can be reached at (312) 362-7645, (847) 721-2496 (cell) or mconkli2@depaul.edu.

Craig Sautter, visiting faculty, School for New Learning. Sautter has expertise in the history of political corruption in Illinois. “Illinois – ironically the ‘Land of Lincoln’ – has a long history of political corruption. As novelist Nelson Algren exaggerated in “Chicago: City on the Make,”  those who came here “…were all of a single breed. They all had hustler’s blood,’” Sautter said. “No wonder 80 Illinois officials have been convicted of crimes since 1972. But Illinois also has a long history of political reformers, from social reformer Jane Addams to the late Senator Paul Simon to Ill. Gov. Pat Quinn. Much of our state and local politics is a struggle between these two inclinations.” Sautter can be reached at (773) 262-5806, (773) 655-7169 or rcsautter@aol.com.