Operation Greylord and its Aftermath

Operation Greylord is regarded as the largest and most successful investigation into courtroom misconduct in the history of the American judiciary. The target of this federal investigation was the Cook County (Chicago and suburbs) court system—the largest system of its kind in the United States. The success of the investigation is attributed to the fact that it was a typical “sting” operation in which the F.B.I. fabricated cases, tape recorded conversations, tapped telephones, and planted a bug in the chambers of at least one judge. At this time, the consequences of Greylord continue to shake the system. Over 60 individuals have been convicted, two committed suicide, and others are still awaiting indictment. Never before has the legal profession in Chicago been more humiliated. And at no other time has there been a greater need to restore the public's faith in both the bench and the bar. To that end, important recommendations have been made (some of which have already been implemented) to reform the administration of justice in Cook County, adopt new ethical requirements for judges and attorneys, and allow merit selection of judges in Illinois. As in all corruption cases, there is at least one important lesson to be derived from Greylord: Never say, “It can't happen here.” Seldom does one of the governments of our country undertake an inquiry into another government.... Seldom does one judiciary look with scrutiny at another. This is truly a profound case. U.S. District Court Judge Prentice H. Marshall

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