Other Jon Burge victims have been assisted by Clerk Brown in seeking restitution

(Chicago) The Honorable Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, was elated to hear that Michael Tillman, wrongfully incarcerated for more than 23 years, was released from prison yesterday.

Twenty-years-old at the time of his arrest, Tillman was tortured for more than three days by officers who served under former Chicago Area 2 Police Commander Jon Burge. Tillman falsely confessed to first degree murder. Burge and more than 20 officers that worked under him have been accused of torturing and forcing confessions from several victims who ended up being wrongly imprisoned.

A federal investigation into the alleged cover-up of the torture cases led to Burge being arrested on Oct. 21, 2008, on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury.

Clerk Brown is encouraging Tillman, 43, to pursue a Certificate of Innocence through the Clerk’s Office. Under a law passed in September 2008, by the General Assembly, those exonerated can apply to the county court of their conviction instead of waiting for a pardon from the Governor. While this process will not replace the Governor’s pardon, it is an alternative means of getting compensated. Under Section 2-792 of the Code of Civil Procedure passed in September 2008, a person wrongfully imprisoned can receive a certificate of innocence from the Circuit Court.

“I applaud the diligent work of Mr. Tillman’s attorneys to pursue the freedom their client deserved,” said Brown. “If granted by the Court, receiving a Certificate of Innocence will help give Mr. Tillman get a fresh start in life.”  

Certificates of Innocence provide a monetary amount based on the discretion of the court. But the court shall make no awards in excess of the following amounts: for imprisonment of 5 years or less, not more than $85,350; for imprisonment for imprisonment of 14 years or less but over 5 years, not more than 170,000.00; for imprisonment of more than 14 years, not more than $199,150.00.

Clerk Brown has helped other wrongfully incarcerated individuals file for certificates of innocence, including David Bates and Alton Logan. Bates was also tortured into a confession under Burge’s command, convicted of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery in 1993, and sentenced to 20 years. Bates was acquitted of all charges at a new trial in December 1995. With Clerk Brown’s assistance, Bates filed a petition for a certificate of innocence in February 2009. Clerk Brown assisted Logan, who was unjustly imprisoned for 26 years, to file for a Certificate of Innocence that was granted in April 2009. Logan has since filed suit against the City of Chicago and Jon Burge.

Clerk Brown was also the first elected official to send a letter to U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald urging him to launch an independent federal investigation into the alleged cover-up of the torture cases by former Chicago Police Lt. John Burge.