Court OKs Eminent Domain In Cemetery Acquisition for O'Hare Airport Expansion

The Chicago Tribune reports that on Friday, an Illinois state trial court ruled that Chicago can proceed with acquiring by eminent domain the 6.3 acre St. Johannes Cemetery in order to build a new runway at O'Hare Airport. Some 900 known graves will be moved. St. John's United Church of Christ that owns the cemetery says that the beliefs of those buried there call for them to "remain undisturbed until the day of resurrection of Jesus Christ." This is one of the last impediments to beginning construction after a settlement with the village of Bensenville last month. In 2006, the D.C. Circuit rejected a RFRA challenge to the relocation plans. (See prior posting.)