Rumors were circulating on Sunday among Chicago's leading judges before the annual "Red Mass," at Holy Name Cathedral, that one of their colleagues, Judge Anthony Burrell, was "on the take."

The rumor buzzed as dozens of judges, and hundreds of lawyers, prepared for the annual mass, sponsored by the Catholic Lawyers Guild.

Judge Burrell, a novice judge, is known among lawyers to be considered an incompetent jurist, who lacks knowledge of the most basic elements of due process and other Constitutional protections for human rights. Burrell has been heard in court, responding to counsel, arguing on behalf of defendant's rights, "so what?" And "who cares?"

It is hoped that Burrell will be probed by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, on the corruption allegations.

Many suspect cases have been ruled recently by Burrell.

In one case, a young, female lawyer was stunned in open court when another judge was sitting in place of Burrell, a common practice in the crowded Circuit Court of Cook County Courts. She demanded that the judges clerks find the judge, and then, biting her nails in open court, and pulling her hair, waited half an hour until he was found. Then she ran down to the room where he was presiding in order to obtain a favorable ruling from him.

The attorney is believed to be with the law firm of Levenfeld Pearlstein.