Amy St. Eve
From Judgepedia
Contents |
Amy J. St. Eve is a federal district (Article III) judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, one of the busiest federal courts in the nation. She joined the court in 2002 after being nominated by President George W. Bush.
Early life and education
St. Eve is a native of Illinois who attended Cornell University for both her undergraduate and legal studies. St. Eve received her Bachelor's degree in 1987 and her Juris Doctor in 1990. [1]
Legal career
- Private practice, New York City, 1990-1994
- Associate independent counsel, Whitewater Independent Counsel's Office, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1994-1996
- Assistant U.S. attorney, Northern District of Illinois, 1996-2001
- Senior counsel, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, Illinois, 2001-2002 [1]
Federal judicial career
St. Eve was nominated to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois by President George W. Bush on March 21, 2002 to a seat vacated by George Lindberg. St. Eve was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 1, 2002 and received her commission on August 2, 2002. [1]
Notable cases
Tony Rezko case
St. Eve presided the case over Antoin "Tony" Rezko. Rezko was a one time Barack Obama associate and had connections to Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Antoin "Tony" Rezko was found guilty by a jury on 16 the 24 counts , including scheming to get kickbacks out of money management firms wanting state business and a contractor who wanted to build a hospital in northern Illinois. He was acquitted of charges that included attempted extortion.
"What the jury did was vindicate the interests of the citizens of Illinois and honest government," said U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.
The nine-week trial included explosive testimony about all-night drug parties involving the government's star witness and allegations that the governor discussed a state job for a supporter after the donor handed over a $25,000 check for Blagojevich's campaign. Testimony barely touched on the relationship between Obama and Rezko, who has known the Democratic presidential candidate since he entered politics and was involved in a 2005 real estate deal with him. Most of the focus was on shakedowns prosecutors said Rezko arranged when he was a top adviser to Governor Blagojevich.
Duffy and other defense attorneys had maintained that the government had little evidence tying him to corruption and that the star witness, admitted political fixer Stuart P. Levine, was not credible because years of drug use had damaged his memory. Levine was a member of a state board that decided which hospitals got built and on a panel that decided which investment firms got allocations from a $40 billion fund that pays pensions of retired teachers. Levine testified that Rezko, drawing on the political clout he developed as a Blagojevich fundraiser, stacked both boards with members who could be relied upon to follow orders when big-money decisions came up. Prosecutors said he used that clout to shake down companies and individuals hoping for state business for $7 million in kickbacks.
While Obama's name rarely surfaced, the case focused attention on Obama's relationship with Rezko, a man Hillary Clinton derided in one televised debate as a "slum landlord". Rezko, a real estate developer and fast-food entrepreneur, had been friendly with Obama for years, even offering him a job after Obama finished law school. Obama turned down the offer, but a political friendship developed. Rezko donated more than $21,000 to Obama and raised far more for his campaigns in Illinois, though not his presidential bid. Levine also advised Obama on the purchase of a new Chicago home and, in his wife's name, purchased a vacant lot next to the new Obama home at the same time from a couple who insisted on selling both pieces of property simultaneously. The purchase raised questions about the extent of his help. The charges against Rezko had nothing to do with Obama, who has then donated $150,000 in Rezko-related contributions to charity.
Rezko, 52, was charged with scheming with Levine to split a $1.5 million kickback from a contractor who wanted to build a hospital in northern Illinois and to shake down money management firms wanting to invest in the teacher pension fund. [2]
Conrad Black case
St. Eve also presided over another high profile case including former media baron Conrad Black, formerly the head of Hollinger International publishing company. Black was charged with eight counts of mail fraud and wire fraud for allegedly looting millions of dollars from Hollinger International. In an 11-count indictment, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago accused Black and three other former executives of Hollinger International of diverting money that should have gone to the company and its shareholders.
Only July 13, 2007 a jury in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois found Black guilty guilty of obstruction of justice and three counts of mail fraud, following a 15-week trial in a Chicago courtroom and more than two weeks of jury deliberation. After his conviction, Black has surrendered his U.K. passport and must give the judge an address of where he can be located. St. Eve explained that if Black does not show up, his $21-million bail would be forfeited. She added that he must remain in Chicago until then. [3]
At an afternoon news conference after the verdicts were read, U.S. prosecuting attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald told reporters, "I don't like using words like 'victory' to treat it like a basketball game," but said the prosecution team was "very content" with the charges that stuck. Fitzgerald also stated, "I will simply say this: He was charged, he's now a convicted felon — convicted for very serious fraud charges and convicted of obstructing justice, and I'll leave it at that," Fitzgerald said.
The nine-woman, three-man jury found the Montreal-born Black not guilty on nine other charges, including mail fraud, wire fraud, racketeering and tax fraud. In the wake of their decision, none of the 12 jurors agreed to speak to the media. Kipnis, Boultbee, and Atkinson, were all convicted of three counts each of mail fraud, meaning they could each face up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $750,000 US
On December 10, 2007, Black was sentenced to 6½ years in prison for his role in the misappropriation of millions of dollars from the newspaper empire he once headed. Black received 6½ years in prison, but he did not begin his sentence until March of 2008. Black was also fined $125,000 US. Black, who remained expressionless as his sentence was pronounced in federal court, must also forfeit $6.1 million US — the estimated amount of the fraud, according to a pre-sentence report. Under U.S. rules, he must serve at least 85 percent of his sentence. Black's chief sentencing lawyer, Jeffrey Steinback, had earlier argued for leniency. He described Black as a devoted family man and a respected historian. He also said Black should not be expected to show remorse as he has already filed notice that he plans to appeal his convictions. Steinback also said Black's obstruction of justice conviction was not typical, in that it involved no bribery. "In his heart," Black believes he did nothing wrong, Steinback said. More than 100 letters of support were filed with the court on Black's behalf from such luminaries as former prime minister Brian Mulroney, pop star Elton John, U.S. political commentator Rush Limbaugh and Canadian Nobel Prize winner John Polanyi.
In his address to the court, prosecutor Eric Sussman said Black's crimes deserved a lengthy sentence, in part because of the disdain and defiance Black has shown for the process so far. He referred to the e-mails Black exchanged with the CBC's Mike Hornbrook as one example of that, when Black said prison would be a "bore." The judge ruled the prosecution had not made its case that the fraud amounted to $32 million US, and based the sentence on the $6.1-million US loss estimated in the pre-sentencing report. [4]
Further reading
- Arab Writers Syndicate on Rezko Case
- The UK Guardian on Amy St. Eve during the Conrad Black Trial
- Searchable Database on Cases Filed with Amy St. Eve
- Chicago Business News named St. Eve one of Chicago's Top 40 under 40.
- Laywer ratings on Judge Amy St. Eve
- A Canadian blog highlighting St. Eve
- Rezko Watch Blog on Amy St. Eve
- ABC News Blog when Rezko got bailed out
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Judge St. Eve Biography from the Federal Judicial Center.
- ↑ Associated Press "Political Fundraiser Tony Rezko Found Guilty on 16 Counts in Corruption Trial", June 5, 2008
- ↑ CBC News "Black found guilty of obstruction, mail fraud", July 13, 2007
- ↑ CBC News "Conrad Black sentenced to 78 months in jail", December 10, 2007
 |
The Illinois Project on Judgepedia
|
