Illinois Supreme Court

A leading appellate attorney reviews the Illinois Supreme Court opinion handed down Friday, June 2.
People v. Pinkett, 2023 IL 127223
By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender

Michael Pinkett was convicted of aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer following an incident where he failed to stop his motorcycle in response to police lights and sirens and drove more than 21 mph over the speed limit.

In June 2017, Deputy Sheriff Brad Wassell observed Pinkett and two other individuals driving motorcycles in excess of the speed limit. Wassell, who was in an unmarked
Continue Reading Quick Take on Illinois Supreme Court Opinion Issued Friday, June 2, 2023

The Illinois Supreme Court announced amendments to Supreme Court Rules 298 and 404 regarding the application and filing process of waivers of court fees and assessments. These and earlier amendments to Supreme Court Rules make permanent certain temporary measures which were adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The amendments are intended to establish a uniform and consistent procedure across the state governing fee waivers. These amendments provide guidance as to when a remote hearing (or an in-person hearing if requested by the applicant or the applicant will already be in the courthouse on the date of the hearing) can be conducted
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court Amends Rules on Waivers of Fees and Assessments

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys reviews the three civil and eight criminal opinions handed down Thursday, May 18, 2023, by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Chapman v. Chicago Dept. of Finance, 2023 IL 128300
By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. Reagan

The plaintiff submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Chicago Dept. of Finance for certain records pertaining to the Citation Administration and Adjudication System (CANVAS), a database that the City uses for the enforcement of parking, red-light, and speed-camera tickets. After a ticket has been issued, the information is loaded into CANVAS and
Continue Reading Quick Takes on Illinois Supreme Court Opinions Issued Thursday, May 18, 2023

A leading appellate attorney reviews the Illinois Supreme Court opinion handed down Thursday, April 20.
People v. Addison, 2023 IL 127119
By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender

Dion Addison was convicted of unlawful possession of a stolen motor vehicle, forgery, and theft, and was sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. He filed a direct appeal, and appellate counsel successfully argued for additional days of credit against his sentence but did not raise any other issues. Addison subsequently filed a pro se post-conviction petition raising more than a dozen claims of constitutional error. He also alleged
Continue Reading Quick Take on Illinois Supreme Court Opinion Issued Thursday, April 20, 2023

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys reviews the two civil and three criminal opinions handed down Thursday, March 23, by the Illinois Supreme Court.
People v. Whitehead, 2023 IL 128051
By Jay Wiegman, Assistant Appellate Defender

Aggravated Battery is defined in the Criminal Code in a variety of ways, including by the location of the conduct: “A person commits aggravated battery when, in committing a battery . . . he or she is or the person battered is on or about a public way, public property, a public place of accommodation or amusement, a sports venue, or a domestic
Continue Reading Quick Takes on Illinois Supreme Court Opinions Issued Thursday, March 23, 2023

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys reviews the one civil and two criminal opinions handed down Friday, February 17, by the Illinois Supreme Court.
Cothron v. White Castle System, Inc., 2023 IL 128004
By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. Reagan

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals certified the following question arising under the Biometric Information Privacy Act  to the Illinois Supreme Court, seeking its answer pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 20(a): “Do section 15(b) and 15(d) claims accrue each time a private entity scans a person’s biometric identifier and each time a private entity transmits such
Continue Reading Quick Takes on Illinois Supreme Court Opinions Issued Friday, February 17, 2023

A leading appellate attorney reviews the Illinois Supreme Court opinion handed down Thursday, October 20. 

People v. Stewart, 2022 IL 126116
By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender

In 2016, Denzal Stewart was charged with the Class 2 offense of possession of a stolen motor vehicle. Stewart was 20 years old at the time of the offense, and he turned 21 while the charge was pending.

After Stewart was found guilty at a jury trial, the court found he was subject to mandatory Class X sentencing pursuant to 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-95(b). That statute provides, in part:

(b)
Continue Reading Quick Take on Illinois Supreme Court Opinion Issued Thursday, October 20, 2022

The Illinois Supreme Court announced today the approval of new Rule 455, which will create uniform statewide procedures for ensuring that criminal hearing and trial exhibits become part of the record on appeal. The new rule is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2023.

View the New Rule 455. Also, view the Illinois Supreme Court Rules on the Illinois Courts website.

New Rule 455, first proposed by the Appellate Lawyers Association (ALA) and supported by the Office of the State Appellate Defender (OSAD), is intended to bring uniformity to trial exhibits and prevent the delays which
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court Adopts New Rule for Trial Exhibits

A leading appellate attorney reviews the Illinois Supreme Court opinion handed down Thursday, October 6.
In re Kelan W., 2022 IL 128031
By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender

In August 2020, Kelan W. was in Missouri with an adult accomplice when they allegedly unlawfully took a vehicle from another individual and then drove the vehicle across the river into Illinois where they were apprehended. Kelan was 16 years old and resided in Illinois with his mother at the time.

The State subsequently filed a delinquency petition against Kelan, alleging offenses based on conduct which occurred
Continue Reading Quick Take on Illinois Supreme Court Opinion Issued Thursday, October 6, 2022

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys reviews the nine Illinois Supreme Court opinions handed down Thursday, September 22.

Editor’s note: There will be no summary of People v. Kastman. 
Noland v. Mendoza, 2022 IL 127239
By Karen Kies DeGrand of Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC

The Illinois Supreme Court found that plaintiffs Michael Noland and James Clayborne, former Illinois state senators who had voted for laws to reduce legislators’ salaries, misled the public; shortly after leaving office, they sued the state comptroller to recover the pay they had agreed should be withheld. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that
Continue Reading Quick Takes on Illinois Supreme Court Opinions Issued Thursday, September 22, 2022

The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) Probation Services Division sought and received funds from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to implement initiatives to support the development of a statewide training and technical assistance program to address the training needs of new Problem-Solving Courts (PSC) and the ongoing training needs of experienced PSC. AOIC Probation Services Division has accomplished these goals through a multi-pronged approach including data collection, curriculum, courses, and training workshops for the PSC of Illinois.

The AOIC Probation Services Division formed the PSC Curriculum Committee in early 2020. The overall PSC curriculum, individual courses, workshops,
Continue Reading AOIC Probation Services Division Announces 17 Training Courses for Problem-Solving Courts

The Illinois Supreme Court announced this week that Justice Mary Jane Theis
will be its next Chief Justice. Justice Theis was selected by the Court to serve a three-year term commencing October 26, 2022. She succeeds Justice Anne M. Burke whose tenure as Chief Justice began in October of 2019.

An installation ceremony marking Justice Theis’ selection as Chief Justice will be held at the Supreme Court Building in Springfield during the Court’s November Term.

“I would like to thank my colleagues for giving me this opportunity to serve the people of Illinois as Chief Justice,” Justice Theis said. “I
Continue Reading Justice Mary Jane Theis Selected as Next Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court

Chief Justice Anne M. Burke has announced her retirement from the Illinois Supreme Court. Her last day on the bench will be November 30, 2022. Chief Justice Burke has served on the Supreme Court since 2006 and has served as Chief Justice since October 2019. Her term as Chief Justice concludes on October 25, 2022. Read Justice Burke’s full statement on her retirement.

“I have been blessed to serve as a Supreme Court Justice for the past 16 years and have loved working with my staff, colleagues, and Judicial Branch staff to serve the people of Illinois,” Chief Justice
Continue Reading Chief Justice Anne M. Burke Announces Retirement From Illinois Supreme Court – Justice Joy V. Cunningham to Fill Vacancy

Chief Justice Anne M. Burke and the Illinois Supreme Court announced today an amendment to Supreme Court Rule 711 (Rule 711), which allows law students and recent law school graduates to obtain temporary law licenses to perform legal services, to include federal court work. The amended order is effective immediately.

View the amendment to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711.

Rule 711 previously allowed licensees to work for certain non-profit and public-sector employers practicing in the Illinois state courts but did not reference federal courts. The amendment to Rule 711 allows for employment at federal government agencies practicing in the
Continue Reading Supreme Court Amends Rule 711 on Temporary Licensure To Include Federal Court Work

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys reviews the two Illinois Supreme Court opinions handed down Friday, June 24.
People v. Lewis, 2022 IL 126705
By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender

In 2015, Shane Lewis responded to an ad on Backpage.com titled, “young warm and ready.” (A printout of the ad is appended to the Court’s opinion.) The body of the ad indicated that the poster was 18 years old and was a “hot little co ed” who was “young, eager to please and more than willing to meet all your desires.” The ad included a
Continue Reading Quick Takes on Illinois Supreme Court Opinions Issued Friday, June 24, 2022

Our panel of leading appellate attorneys reviews the four Illinois Supreme Court opinions handed down Thursday, June 16.
Holm v. Kodat, 2022 IL 127511
By Michael T. Reagan, Law Offices of Michael T. Reagan

The Mazon River is 28 miles long, ending in the Illinois River near Morris. It contains and abuts large deposits of fossils. The Court’s opinion by Justice Carter relates that this area is world-famous. It is a National Historic landmark which contains “extraordinary fossils with exceptional preservation.”

Plaintiffs and defendants own separate parcels of property along the river. Plaintiffs operate a fossil hunting business and
Continue Reading Quick Takes on Illinois Supreme Court Opinions Issued Thursday, June 16, 2022