U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer ruled that former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley will remain as a defendant in the case Tillman v. Burge et al., 10 C 4551. Michael Tillman was incarcerated for nearly 24 years before evidence came to light that he had been tortured into confessing to a rape and murder he did not commit by officers under the watch of former Area Two police commander Jon Burge. Tillman’s conviction was vacated in January 2010, and he received a certificate of innocence shortly thereafter. Burge was convicted last year of perjury for lying about his knowledge of police torture at Area Two.
Tillman’s civil suit names Daley as a defendant, alleging that he played a role in the conspiracy to cover up widespread police abuse and torture at Area Two. For now, Daley remains a defendant in the case, although his attorneys are requesting the judge reconsider her ruling. His deposition has been noticed for September 8.
