Prepare the Lube!

Who are we kidding? There won't be any lube:

• After three years of negotiations, lawsuits and appeals, the Illinois Supreme Court this week will hear arguments from attorneys for the city of Chicago and the Fraternal Order of Police in a case that will determine the future of serious misconduct cases involving Chicago Police Department officers and the public’s right of access.

  The crux of the dispute is whether officers accused of severe wrongdoing may have their disciplinary cases heard and decided by a third-party arbitrator — as is the case for other municipal employees represented by labor unions — instead of the Chicago Police Board, which has been the city’s practice since 1961.

  Arguments are scheduled for Thursday in Springfield. A decision from the state’s high court could come before the end of the year, though it’s not yet clear how or when a new officer discipline system could be implemented.

Go read it all at the link. All we can say is we're damn glad we're gone from this crapshow.