Madigan Wants to Purge Burge

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office says it can't handle the remaining cases related to former Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge because of budget cuts imposed by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Burge is the former commander of a police unit that allegedly tortured black suspects into confessing to crimes decades ago.

In a hearing Friday, Madigan's attorneys asked to have supervision for Burge-related cases shifted back to the Cook County state's attorney.

Cook County's Chief Criminal Court Judge Paul Biebel took the request under consideration Friday. He set April 7 for the next hearing.

It's a move that advocates say will delay the release of 25 alleged torture victims from prison because they say it will take longer for their cases to be heard.