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Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer Michael Leonard appears on WGN’s Let’s Get Legal on Saturday February 1, 2025

by | Feb 2, 2025 | Firm News

Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer Michael Leonard appears on WGN’s Let’s Get Legal on Saturday February 1, 2025. Mike Leonard joined host Jon Hansen on WGN’s “Let’s Get Legal” to discuss the jury’s deliberations in the Mike Madigan federal criminal trial. Mike and Jon discussed the fact that the jury is tasked with attempting to reach unanimous verdicts on 23 separate Counts. The Jury Instructions provided to the jury by Judge John Blakey consist of more than 100 pages.

Mike and Jon also addressed a number of trial-related issues, including a number raised by WGN listeners via the Let’s Get Legal text line. They discussed, among other topics, how a trial lawyer can learn from other trial lawyers. Mike referenced his experience working on a criminal trial years ago with the lawyer who had tried the John Wayne Gacy case as a Cook County prosecutor many years prior to that case. Mike details the manner in which that former prosecutor, and then defense lawyer got ready for trial.

Mike and Jon also talked in depth about closing arguments in criminal jury trials, including the Government’s ability to get the “last word” by way of its rebuttal argument. Although one might think that the defendant and his/her counsel should get the last word with the stakes being so high for the defendant, but Mike explains that the opposite is true – and thus the Government gets the last work by way of its rebuttal closing argument in light of the fact that it bears the burden of proof.

Mike and Jon also delved into a listener question regarding where to send a promising law school candidate. Mike and Jon even touched upon how trial lawyers, including Mike, follow certain superstitions during a trial and during jury deliberations.

You can have a listen to the broadcast by using the link below, or by going to the WGN Let’s Get Legal website by Googling it.

https://wgnradio.com/lets-get-legal/lets-get-legal-jury-engagement-in-the-michael-madigan-trial/

Michael Leonard

Leonard Trial Lawyers

February 2, 2025