Overview

• U.S. District Judge John Kness concluded on July 9 that Austin’s chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure preclude her from enduring jury proceedings.
• A court-appointed pulmonologist reported that Austin would need continuous oxygen support and could not travel or engage in trial preparation sessions.
• Federal prosecutors challenged the medical claims with FBI surveillance showing her walking unassisted without oxygen, but Kness sided with the defense evidence.
• Austin, 76, served over 30 years as the 34th Ward alderman before retiring in 2023 and was indicted in 2021 on bribery and false-statement charges tied to home improvement kickbacks.
• Unless her health materially improves, the ruling is likely to halt the high-profile case before it reaches a jury verdict.