Afternoon Briefing: Lawyers make post-trial arguments in Burke case

Good afternoon, Chicago.

Whether a job can be considered “property” and what constitutes an “official act” were the focus of court arguments today in ex-Chicago Ald. Edward Burke’s corruption case, where Burke’s attorneys made a longshot bid for a retrial on some counts and an outright acquittal on others.

Burke, 80, was convicted by a jury in December of racketeering conspiracy and a dozen other counts for using the clout of his elected office to try to win private law business from developers and to pressure the Field Museum to hire his goddaughter. He was acquitted on one count of conspiracy to commit extortion related to the redevelopment of a Burger King.

Burke is scheduled to be sentenced June 24. Before that, however, U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall must deal with a motion by Burke’s attorneys to toss out portions of the jury’s decision and acquit the former alderman on nine counts.

Here’s what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.

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