Supreme Court refuses to hear case of former Pontiac prison inmate

Posted on November 13, 2023
The nation’s highest court made their ruling Monday morning. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A former inmate at the maximum security prison in Pontiac will not have his case heard by the nation’s highest court.

Monday morning, the Supreme Court refused to hear the case of Michael Johnson, 42.

Johnson, who is serving time at a separate facility for battery – accused the prison of refusing his constitutional right to exercise.

According to NBC News, Johnson was cited more than 70 times between 2008 and 2016, which led to three years in solitary confinement.

During his stay, Johnson alleges the state did not allow him an opportunity for one hour of exercise in the outdoor yard.

Illinois Solicitor General Jane Notz, who represented the state, said the state did not violate Johnson’s yard restrictions due to his behavior behind bars.

Johnson is now behind bars at a facility that provides psychiatric care.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…