Filings delayed in convicted ex-Illinois House speaker’s appeal

(The Center Square) – While former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan spends the final days of 2025 behind bars, the next filings in Madigan’s appeal of his corruption convictions are expected in late January and February.

Madigan began serving a 7.5-year prison term Oct. 13 at a minimum security prison camp in Morgantown, West Virginia. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the 83-year-old ex-speaker’s current scheduled release date is Feb. 22, 2032.

Both a U.S. District Court judge and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Madigan’s petitions to remain free pending the appeals process.

Madigan filed a notice of appeal on July 23. On Nov. 3, the ex-speaker’s attorneys filed a brief arguing that he is entitled to acquittal on all counts of his conviction.

On Dec. 23, the appellate court granted a time extension until Jan. 30, 2026, for the U.S. government’s brief in the appeals case and ordered Madigan’s reply by F...