Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in two cases that could change the way prosecutors go after corruption. A third case will follow next year. Each is an appeal that challenges a wide-ranging element of criminal law known as the “honest services” statute. The concept of “honest services” has been key to recent convictions of public officials, including former Illinois Governor George Ryan and Chicago mayoral aide Robert Sorich. And the outcome of the Supreme Court cases could impact the prosecution of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. To help us understand these cases and what’s at stake, we’ve invited two attorneys who know a bit about honest services fraud. Patrick Deady is a former federal prosecutor and partner at Hogan Marren, Ltd. He worked on the defense for one of Sorich’s co-defendants. And former federal prosecutor Patrick Collins was on the other side of that courtroom. He’s now a partner at Perkins Coie.

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Defining Honest Services