Chicago's top lawyer preparing to depart amicably but amid controversy. A former White House counsel has been named the city of Chicago's next top lawyer, as current Corporation Counsel Stephen Patton announced his upcoming departure after six pivotal years during which he negotiated landmark reparations for victims of police torture as well as reforms for how his own department handles lawsuits involving officer misconduct. Patton confirmed his resignation Thursday, saying he informed Mayor Rahm Emanuel early in the fall that he intended to leave after seeing the city through the release of a critical U. S. Department of Justice report on the Chicago Police Department's use of force and discipline. A prominent litigation attorney before taking his city post, Patton said he initially intended to stay in the $1. Police Department and the lifting of the Shakman decree, the federal court order that governed city hiring for four decades and required a costly federal monitor."I finally reached a point where I didn't feel like I'd be leaving the mayor or the city in a lurch and that it was time to move on," Patton told the Tribune.

I have thoroughly enjoyed public service and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I found it to be rewarding, challenging and never boring."Patton said he played a significant role in recruiting his successor, Edward Siskel, a former federal prosecutor and deputy White House counsel under President Barack Obama.

Siskel, 4. 4, spent three years in the White House before leaving for the private sector. While with the Obama administration, he handled internal investigations and ran point on congressional investigations into the solar technology company Solyndra and the attack on the U.

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S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya. A former constitutional law student of Obama's at the University of Chicago, Siskel clerked for U.

S. Justice John Paul Stevens and worked as federal prosecutor in Chicago during U. S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's corruption- busting years, including arguing the fraud trial of newspaper publisher Conrad Black."He is brilliant, unflappable, and his integrity is beyond reproach," said former federal prosecutor Jeff Cramer, who prosecuted Black along with Siskel and now serves as managing director of the Berkeley Research Group in Chicago. Merry Madagascar Full Movie more.

Former Supreme Court clerk, federal prosecutor in Chicago, high- level DOJ appointment, deputy White House counsel and a partner at one of the most respected firms in the profession. This is a great hire by City Hall at a time when Chicago must move forward to instill confidence in its institutions."A Chicago- area native, Siskel was known at the White House and federal courthouse here for his ability to quickly address problems and a "Midwestern sensibility.""Ed's moral compass points true north," said Julie Porter, former chief of criminal federal prosecutions in Chicago.

He is a man of complete integrity whose experience will serve the city and its citizens well."Siskel's wife, Rebekah Holman, is a federal prosecutor. Watch Online Watch The Fundamentals Of Caring Full Movie Online Film. He is also a nephew of the late Tribune movie critic Gene Siskel."Having started my legal career in Chicago, I look forward to coming home and returning to public service on behalf of the City and its residents," Siskel said in a statement.

The work of the Law Department has significant impact on people's quality of life, and I'm looking forward to serving the people of Chicago."Siskel, whose appointment must be confirmed by the City Council, will begin in an interim capacity in mid- February. Patton said he will help with the transition."He's a great guy, a great pedigree," Patton said.

He shares my values and my vision as to how to provide first- rate legal counsel."Emanuel chose Patton, a senior litigation partner in the Chicago office of the firm Kirkland & Ellis, to oversee the city's Law Department in May 2. Patton came to the job with a reputation as one of the country's top lawyers in large part due to the $2. He represented the industry. Emanuel issued a statement praising Patton's contributions during his tenure, including his work on police reforms, a landmark agreement with Pfizer on marketing of prescription opioids and crafting the sweeping reparations package for victims of Jon Burge, the former South Side police commander at the center of the long- standing allegations that detectives routinely tortured murder suspects."Over the past six years, Steve has worked tirelessly on behalf of the city, and approached every issue, every case and every question with integrity," Emanuel's statement said. While his departure is not immediate, when Steve does leave, he will be able to do so knowing his work made a difference for Chicago and its residents."While Patton's departure was described by sources as amicable and self- driven, it comes after a tumultuous period for the Law Department. In late 2. 01. 5, he was criticized for leading the unsuccessful fight against the release of a video of a police officer fatally shooting 1. Laquan Mc. Donald.

He cited ongoing criminal investigations. The video's eventual release in November 2. One Piece Episode 398 English Subbed there. Department of Justice to investigate the Police Department's policies and practices. The Justice Department report, released last week, blistered the department for years of poor training of officers who all too often use excessive force, most often against the city's minority residents, as well as failing to adequately investigate problem officers and punish them.

The Police Department now faces the arduous task of fixing deeply rooted problems and regaining the community's trust, but Patton said the fact the city is now in full compliance with the Shakman decree — a 4. When was the last time you heard about some dispute about political hiring or hiring based on clout?" he said. That gives me a lot of optimism that if our city through hard effort could overcome the culture of political hiring, we're up to the challenge of now turning our attention to addressing decades of problems with some of our police officers."Patton's department also has been accused of enabling police abuse, however. The City Council's Progressive Caucus sent a letter to U. S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch last week, asking her to launch a federal review of the Law Department's federal civil rights litigation division, which has been sanctioned eight times during Emanuel's tenure for withholding possible evidence in police misconduct lawsuits, which it defends.

A Tribune investigation last year that analyzed nearly 4. Emanuel took office found that a federal judge had to order the city to turn over potential evidence in nearly 1 in 5 cases. The issue came to a head in January 2. Darius Pinex. In response, Emanuel asked former U. S. Attorney Dan Webb to lead a review of the department's handling of police misconduct cases. Webb found no pattern of intentional misconduct among city attorneys, but he also recommended more than 5. Patton instituted those reforms, along with several other measures he made immediately after the Pinex ruling.

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