Judge Thomas Meyer finally ruled that he could find no legal basis to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate McHenry County Sheriff Keith Nygren, quite simply because State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi can conduct his own criminal investigation if he wants to do so.

Simple enough, although not as simple for Bianchi, who believes he has a conflict of interest because he represents the sheriff on some civil matters. Bianchi’s position isn’t crazy. Even a hypothetical investigation of Nygren would be a thorny matter for him.

Although it’s not without precedent for Bianchi’s office to prosecute county employees, whom his office is also charged with representing civilly – at least two during Bianchi’s administration alone by my count.