Hearing set on Madigan request to shift Burge case

A Cook County judge has appointed a special state's attorney to handle a batch of police torture cases associated with former Chicago police Cmdr. Jon Burge.

Judge Paul Biebel Jr. on Tuesday appointed Stuart Nudelman to the post. He's a former Cook County judge and assistant public defender.

The appointment was made after Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office requested to be relieved of some of the cases due to budget concerns.

After the hearing, a Madigan spokeswoman said the office will focus on its remaining seven Burge cases.

Public defender Harold Winston says he was surprised by the ruling and looks forward to working with Nudelman.

Burge has pleaded not-guilty to lying under oath about the torture of African-American suspects.