Larry Reimnitz v. State's Attorney of Cook County

POSNER, Circuit Judge.

This case is a fine illustration of the protracted and complex — some might say the fouled-up — character of modern American criminal procedure. The history of the case begins 10 years ago, in January 1975, when Larry Reimnitz’s wife was found strangled. They had been married for five months and his wife had complained about his close relationship with a former student (Reimnitz is a schoolteacher), David Span-gler. Although suspected of the crime, Reimnitz maintained his innocence and was not charged. Then in August 1975 Reim-nitz sexually assaulted Spangler, who told…