Thomas J. Maloney (judge)
Encyclopedia
Thomas J. Maloney was a corrupt judge in Cook County
, Illinois
who served from 1977 till his retirement in 1990. Since 1981, the court was being investigated by the FBI in Operation Greylord
, and he was eventually convicted on four counts of accepting bribes (including fixing three murder cases). He served 12 years of a 15 year prison term from 1994 to 2007.
The web magazine Judiciary Report has said of Maloney that he "easily qualifies as one of the worst judges in history".
shared an office for some time with
power broker Edward Vrdolyak
. Before joining the bench, he had facilitated a payment to a judge
who subsequently acquitted Harry Aleman of murder.
In 1977, Maloney was named a judge by the Illinois Supreme Court, and shortly thereafter he came to be known to attorneys such as Robert Cooley
and William Swano and in criminal circles as a judge who could be bought. Generally, the negotiations were arranged and bribes paid through the use of a "bagman," or intermediary. For some years, bailiff Lucius Robinson acted as his bagman, but when the FBI investigations turned up the heat, co-lawyer and friend Robert McGee acted as bagman.
However, Maloney's public image was that of a tough judge,
known for imposing tough
sentences and castigating gang members as "the lowest sorts of cowards.". In his courtroom, he sat under a framed portrait of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall
. For a time, he was one of six so-called "heater" judges who were assigned high-profile cases.
In 1988, the FBI pressed charges based on Operation Greylord and the associated Operation Gambat, and a grand jury proceedings were initiated. Erstwhile bagman Robinson testified, under a grant of immunity. At the time, Maloney was continuing to practice.
In June 1991, Maloney was indicted, causing considerable surprise in Cook County. In the ensuing trial, he claimed in his defence that Swano and Robinson had operated a scam known as "rainmaking," where the participants never pass the bribe along to the judge. However, Maloney's financial records indicated that he had purchased "buying hundreds of money orders with cash from unknown sources", in order to hide the fact that he was spending more money than he received from all legitimate sources. On April 16, 1993, the jury convicted Maloney on all counts.
Altogether, seventeen judges were sentenced in the investigations into Operation Greylord. However, as the Chicago Tribune
put it in his obituary,
Maloney was "the first — and remains the only — Cook County judge to be convicted of rigging murder cases for cash". Mental Floss
describes it as
"the worst of the worst was the not-so-honorable Thomas J. Maloney".
Other cases involving judges accepting cash in murder cases include James McGettrick of the Cuyahoga County Court
.
death by Maloney. After Maloney's conviction, he claimed that his judgment be
investigated for possibly being influenced by bribery.. The Supreme Court in 1997 held that a sufficient factual case had been made for discovery of facts in the matter under habeas corpus
law..
Cook County, Illinois
Cook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, with its county seat in Chicago. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. The county has 5,194,675 residents, which is 40.5 percent of all Illinois residents. Cook County's population is larger than...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
who served from 1977 till his retirement in 1990. Since 1981, the court was being investigated by the FBI in Operation Greylord
Operation Greylord
Operation Greylord was an investigation conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the IRS Criminal Investigation Division into corruption in the judiciary of Cook County, Illinois...
, and he was eventually convicted on four counts of accepting bribes (including fixing three murder cases). He served 12 years of a 15 year prison term from 1994 to 2007.
The web magazine Judiciary Report has said of Maloney that he "easily qualifies as one of the worst judges in history".
Career
Thomas Maloney had been a boxer in his youth, and started as a lawyer in 1952. He had underworld connections as a lawyer, andshared an office for some time with
power broker Edward Vrdolyak
Edward Vrdolyak
Edward Robert Vrdolyak is a noted Chicago lawyer and politician and a convicted felon. He was a powerful longtime Chicago Alderman and also head of the Cook County Democratic Party before running unsuccessfully for Mayor of Chicago as a Republican...
. Before joining the bench, he had facilitated a payment to a judge
who subsequently acquitted Harry Aleman of murder.
In 1977, Maloney was named a judge by the Illinois Supreme Court, and shortly thereafter he came to be known to attorneys such as Robert Cooley
Robert Cooley
Robert Cooley is a former Mafia lawyer, government informant and author of the 2004 autobiography, "When Corruption was King."-Early life:...
and William Swano and in criminal circles as a judge who could be bought. Generally, the negotiations were arranged and bribes paid through the use of a "bagman," or intermediary. For some years, bailiff Lucius Robinson acted as his bagman, but when the FBI investigations turned up the heat, co-lawyer and friend Robert McGee acted as bagman.
However, Maloney's public image was that of a tough judge,
known for imposing tough
sentences and castigating gang members as "the lowest sorts of cowards.". In his courtroom, he sat under a framed portrait of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall
John Marshall
John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the United States whose court opinions helped lay the basis for American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches...
. For a time, he was one of six so-called "heater" judges who were assigned high-profile cases.
In 1988, the FBI pressed charges based on Operation Greylord and the associated Operation Gambat, and a grand jury proceedings were initiated. Erstwhile bagman Robinson testified, under a grant of immunity. At the time, Maloney was continuing to practice.
In June 1991, Maloney was indicted, causing considerable surprise in Cook County. In the ensuing trial, he claimed in his defence that Swano and Robinson had operated a scam known as "rainmaking," where the participants never pass the bribe along to the judge. However, Maloney's financial records indicated that he had purchased "buying hundreds of money orders with cash from unknown sources", in order to hide the fact that he was spending more money than he received from all legitimate sources. On April 16, 1993, the jury convicted Maloney on all counts.
Convicted cases
In the eventual trial (1991–1994), the jury found convincing evidence in the four following cases:- On Leong mafia acquittal: Four years after joining the bench (May 1981), Maloney acquitted hitman Lenny Chow and two other members of the On Leong mafia in a murder case where William Chin had been shot in Chicago's Chinatown. Mafia representative William Moy told noted mafia lawyer Robert CooleyRobert CooleyRobert Cooley is a former Mafia lawyer, government informant and author of the 2004 autobiography, "When Corruption was King."-Early life:...
that he wanted a guaranteed not-guilty verdict. Ward secretary and political boss Pat MarcyPat MarcyPat Marcy was a legendary political boss with great influence over the Illinois Democratic Party. According to Federal prosecutors, as well as informants Robert Cooley and Michael J. Corbitt, he was also a trusted and valued associate of the Chicago Outfit...
(subsequently indicted) assured Cooley that the Judge could be bought but would be expensive. Moy agreed to pay $100,000, a portion of which Marcy gave to Maloney for the fix. At trial, Judge Maloney found a dying declaration by Chin as unreliable, thus acquitting the defendants. Subsequently, Cooley became an informant, and tape recordings of a conversation with Pat Marcy constituted a key piece of testimony.
- Ronald Roby: In 1982, Maloney gave a mild sentence to Roby (probation) in a deceptive practices case. The bribe was arranged by attorney William Swano through bagman Lucius Robinson, who had earlier been identified by Maloney as his dealing man. "Roby testified that a bribe was to paid out of his $5,000 'fee.' Soon after, according to Robinson's testimony, he passed along $2,300 to Judge Maloney at a McCormick Place lounge Maloney had suggested as a meeting place. Robinson also testified that a few days later, while riding alone with Judge Maloney in the judges' elevator, Maloney gave him $200-$300 for his work as a bagman on the case."
- Owen Jones acquittal in felony murder: Jones was charged of beating a man to death with a pipe during a burglary. Swano approached Maloney through Lucius Robinson, but FBI investigations had started and Swano was approached by attorney Robert McGee in court, saying that Robinson had become "too hot" as bagman, and that McGee, who had earlier practiced with Maloney, would be taking over now. Maloney suggested that Jones be convicted on voluntary manslaughter, thus reducing his sentence from twenty to nine years. Jones' mother agreed to pay the $4,000-$5,000 bribe. After trial, Jones was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to nine years.
- El Rukn gang bribe: Two members of the El Rukn gang were charged with double murder in June 1985. Initially, Swano arranged for a $20,000 bribe (of which $10,000 was to be paid to Maloney). The money was paid by Alan Knox, an El Rukn "general", and Swano handed over a file folder with the money to McGee at a restaurant. However, by then, the investigations had intensified, and three eyewitnesses identified a defendant as the murderer. Maloney had second thoughts and later McGee called Swano on June 19 and told him that the deal was off. The two defendants were subsequently sentenced to death.
Impact
After Maloney was convicted, a number of cases involving El Rukn members were re-opened,.Altogether, seventeen judges were sentenced in the investigations into Operation Greylord. However, as the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
put it in his obituary,
Maloney was "the first — and remains the only — Cook County judge to be convicted of rigging murder cases for cash". Mental Floss
Mental floss
Mental Floss is a bi-monthly American magazine, launched in 2001 in Birmingham, Alabama, that presents facts and trivia in a humorous way...
describes it as
"the worst of the worst was the not-so-honorable Thomas J. Maloney".
Other cases involving judges accepting cash in murder cases include James McGettrick of the Cuyahoga County Court
Cuyahoga County Courthouse
The Cuyahoga County Courthouse stretches along Lakeside Boulevard at the north end of the Cleveland Mall in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. The building was listed on the National Register along with the mall district in 1975. Other notable buildings of the Group Plan are the Howard M. Metzenbaum U.S...
.
Bracey vs Glamey
In 1981, the gangster William J. Bracey was convicted of triple murder and sentenced todeath by Maloney. After Maloney's conviction, he claimed that his judgment be
investigated for possibly being influenced by bribery.. The Supreme Court in 1997 held that a sufficient factual case had been made for discovery of facts in the matter under habeas corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
law..