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Illinois Supreme Court

  • September 1, 2016 | Practice News
    Supreme Court adopts new rules to address law that decriminalizes cannabis possession

    The Illinois Supreme Court has adopted six new rules to establish a regulatory framework for a new state law that decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.

    Supreme Court Rules 585, 586, 587, 588, 589 and 590 were created in response to legislation the Illinois General Assembly approved this past spring and Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law last month. Public Act 99-697 took effect July 29, 2016, and the new Supreme Court Rules take effect September 1, 2016.

  • August 17, 2016 | Practice News
    Chief Justice Garman announces screening committee to fill 6th Circuit vacancy

    Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Rita B. Garman announced today the formation of a judicial screening committee for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

    The screening committee was formed for the purpose of assessing the qualifications of those persons who have applied for appointment to the office of At-Large Judge of the Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit created by the upcoming retirement of Judge Harry E. Clem on September 15, 2016. Under the Illinois Constitution, the vacancy will be filled by Supreme Court appointment.

  • August 10, 2016 | Practice News
    Justice Kilbride seeks comment on applicants for 9th Circuit vacancy

    Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride is seeking public comment on five attorneys who have applied to fill a resident Circuit Court vacancy in Fulton County in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

    The vacancy will be created upon Circuit Judge William C. Davis' retirement, effective September 5, 2016. Under the Illinois Constitution, judicial vacancies are filled by Supreme Court appointment. Justice Kilbride uses an extensive application, evaluation and interview process to make recommendations to the full Court for judicial vacancies in the Third Judicial District.

    The five attorneys who have applied to fill the vacancy are Bruce C. Beal of Cuba, Jeremy A. Beard of Dunlap, Curtis S. Lane of Canton, Jeff L. Neigel of Canton, and Hugh F. Toner III of Peoria.

  • July 19, 2016 | Practice News
    Chief Justice Garman announces vacancy in 6th Circuit

    Chief Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for an At-Large Circuit Court vacancy in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.

    The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Judge Harry E. Clem on September 15, 2016. Judge Clem has been a judge since 1979.

  • July 8, 2016 | Practice News
    Quick Takes on Friday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions

    Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Friday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the Civil case Hampton v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and the criminal case People v. Geiler.

    CIVIL

    Hampton v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

    By Karen Kies DeGrand, Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC

    1 comment (Most recent July 11, 2016)
  • June 16, 2016 | Practice News
    Quick Takes on Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court opinions

    Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's top Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the Civil case Moline School District No. 40 Board of Education v. Quinn and the criminal cases People v. McFadden and People v. Rizzo.

    CIVIL

    Moline School District v. Quinn

    By Joanne R. Driscoll, Forde Law Offices LLP

    Does legislation (Public Act 97-1161) creating a property tax exemption for one lessee of one metropolitan airport authority violate the special legislation clause of the Illinois Constitution (Ill. Const. 1970, art. IV, § 13)?  Affirming the appellate court, the Illinois Supreme Court held that it does. 

    1 comment (Most recent June 17, 2016)
  • June 13, 2016 | Practice News
    Supreme Court Rules Committee sets public hearing on proposals

    The Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee will hear comments July 8 at a public hearing in Chicago on three proposals, including one calling for the creation of a Supreme Court rule to govern the use of restraints on minors during court proceedings.

    The Committee will also consider proposed changes to Supreme Court rules involving proof of service and the record on appeal.

  • June 7, 2016 | Practice News
    Supreme Court fills Cook County vacancies on Appellate, Circuit courts

    The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the assignment of Cook County Circuit Judge Mary L. Mikva to the Illinois Appellate Court for the First Judicial Circuit and the appointment of Chicago lawyer Clare J. Quish as an at-large Cook County Circuit Judge.

    Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis recommended to the Court that Judge Mikva be assigned to fill the Appellate Court vacancy that was created by the April 15, 2016, death of Justice Laura Liu. Judge Mikva's assignment is effective on July 15, 2016, and until further order of the Supreme Court.

    "I am honored to be given this challenging opportunity to serve on the Appellate Court," Judge Mikva said. "I hope to use it to help strengthen the public's faith that our legal system is fair, efficient, evenhanded, and compassionate."

  • May 26, 2016 | Practice News
    Supreme Court amends application deadlines for bar exam

    The Illinois Supreme Court announced Thursday changes to a rule that will slightly modify the deadlines to apply to take the Illinois bar examination.

    The amendments to Supreme Court Rule 706, which governs the filing deadlines and fees to take the bar exam, will take effect July 1, 2016. The fees will not change under the rule amendment.

    Under the amended rule, the on-time deadline to apply to take the February bar exam will be extended by approximately two weeks, from September 1 to September 15, and the final late deadline to apply for the February and July exams will be moved up by two weeks, from December 31 to December 15, and May 31 to May 15, respectively.

  • May 20, 2016 | Practice News
    Quick Takes on Thursday's Illinois Supreme Court Civil opinions

    Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's top Illinois Supreme Court Civil opinions in Valfer v. Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Fattah v. Bim, Richter v. Prairie Farms Dairy and Commonwealth Edison Company v. Illinois Commerce Commission.

    Valfer v. Evanston Northwestern Healthcare

    By Alyssa M. Reiter, Williams Montgomery & John Ltd.

    This case explored the breadth of a hospital’s immunity under the Illinois Hospital Licensing Act. Following a peer review, the hospital revoked Dr. Valfer’s privileges to practice at the hospital. After Dr. Valfer sued, the hospital obtained summary judgment. The trial court agreed that the hospital was immune from damages under the Licensing Act and that it had complied with its bylaws and had not engaged in any willful and wanton conduct.