ALDERMAN ED BURKE GOT HIS DAY IN COURT TODAY AS JURY SELECTION GOT UNDERWAY IN HIS RACKETEERING TRIAL.

IT COMES NEARLY 5 YEARS AFTER FBI AGENTS RAIDED HIS CITY HALL AND WARD OFFICES.

BUT FINDING JURORS QUALIFIED TO DECIDE THE FATE OF THE ONCE POWERFUL ALDERPERSON WILL SLOW GOING.

WBTW NEWS REPORTER HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH THE LATEST ON THIS HISTORIC DAY IN FEDERAL COURT.

HEATHER, REMIND US WHAT ED BURKE IS CHARGED WITH.

WELL, HE FACES 14 COUNTS OF RACKETEERING, BRIBERY AND EXTORTION.

AND ONCE A JURY SELECTED, PROSECUTORS WILL ARGUE THAT HE USED HIS POWERFUL PERCH AT CITY HALL.

>> TO FORCE COMPANIES AND PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO DO BUSINESS CITY HALL TO HIRE HIS PRIVATE LAW FIRM IN ALL.

HE'S CHARGED WITH 4 SEPARATE CRIMINAL SCHEMES.

BUT THE BEST KNOWN IS PROBABLY THE SCHEME TO HOLD UP THE SUBSIDY FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE OLD POST OFFICE.

HE WAS CAPTURED ON SECRET RECORDINGS ASKING HIS CO-CONSPIRATOR ALDERMAN DANNY SOLIS IF THEY HAD, QUOTE, LANDED THE TUNA YET THEY HAD NOT.

AND HE HELD UP THE PROJECT.

OKAY.

SO CHICAGO SEEN A LOT OF POLITICAL CORRUPTION COURT CASES.

WHAT DOES THIS ONE MATTER?

BURKE WAS REALLY THE LAST MACHINE BOSS STANDING.

HE'S ACCUSED OF UNDERSTANDING HOW CITY HALL WORKED SO CAREFULLY THAT HE WAS ABLE TO USE HIS POWER TO FORCE THAT AND THE PEOPLE THAT IN THE JURY WILL HEAR ARGUMENTS THAT THAT WAS WHY CORRUPTION IN CHICAGO HAS BEEN ABLE FLOURISH FOR NEARLY A HALF-CENTURY.

OK, SO SET THE SCENE FOR AT THE DIRKSEN COURTHOUSE.

SO HE ARRIVED A LITTLE AFTER 8.30, WEARING A TANNED COAT OVER A DARK SUIT.

HE GAVE REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS JOHN T WAVE AND HE HEADED INSIDE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE, ANNE BURKE, THE FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF ILLINOIS SUPREME COURT AND THE FAILINGS OF LAWYERS.

HE SPOKE ONLY TWICE IN COURT TODAY ONCE TO GREET THE JUDGE AND ONCE DEGREE THE FIRST GROUP OF 53 POTENTIAL JURORS WHO COULD BE ASKED TO DECIDE HIS SLOT OF JURORS TO GO THROUGH.

WHEN WILL WE HEAR WHEN WE THINK WE MIGHT HEAR OPENING STATEMENTS IN THIS CASE AND WHEN MIGHT WE HAVE A VERDICT, HEATHER?

WELL, SO ONLY ABOUT 2 DOZEN JURORS WERE QUESTIONED BY THE JUDGE IN THE WIRES TODAY.

MUCH IF YOU ARE THAN PEOPLE EXPECTED.

OPENING STATEMENTS HAD BEEN EXPECTED ON WEDNESDAY.

IT'S NOT CLEAR WHETHER THAT WILL HAPPEN IN ALL.

THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 6 WEEKS, 6 WEEKS.

AS WE KNOW THERE WAS A LOT PAPERWORK BACK AND FORTH IN THIS TRIAL OR IN THIS CASE.

SO A LOT TO WORK THROUGH IN FEDERAL COURT THERE HAD ROOM.

THANKS SO MUCH.

THANKS,