Illinois Supreme Court
SPRINGFIELD – An appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court regarding the constitutionality of a state law that would end cash bail appears to be at least two months away from resolution under a new timeline approved by the court Thursday. Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed the agreed motion setting the timeline for the high court’s appeal of…
Read Full Article 
While a crocheted serpent took its place on the Capitol rotunda this week and the governor signed a pair of major bills passed in the recent veto session, history was happening on the Illinois Supreme Court. For the first time in its history, the state’s high court is made up of a majority of women…
Read Full Article 
SPRINGFIELD – Justice Mary Jane Theis was sworn in Wednesday as chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court, the fourth woman in the state’s history to hold the position. She’ll serve a three-year term replacing Justice Anne M. Burke, whose term as chief justice concluded Tuesday ahead of her planned retirement effective Nov. 30. Theis…
Read Full Article 
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Justice Lisa Holder White and the Supreme Court of Illinois announced Thursday that Eighth Circuit Court Judge Amy Lannerd has been assigned as an appellate court justice in the Fourth District. Lannerd is being assigned to fill the vacancy created by the decision of Justice John W. Turner of Lincoln to not…
Read Full Article 
SPRINGFIELD — Lisa Holder White was sworn in Thursday as the first Black woman to serve on the Illinois Supreme Court. Holder White, who previously served on the 4th District Court of Appeals, was chosen to succeed one of her mentors in the legal profession, retiring Justice Rita B. Garman, who broke many barriers herself as…
Read Full Article 
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that the public has no right to boat, fish or swim in small rivers that flow across private property, but two justices are urging the General Assembly to change that law. “The legislature should redefine navigability to be more inclusive because that would promote the State’s interest…
Read Full Article 
SPRINGFIELD – In a 4-3 decision with a blistering dissent from the Republican minority, the Illinois Supreme Court declined to rule on a question of whether Illinois Firearm Owners Identification Act is unconstitutional. It was the second time the case of the People v. Vivian Brown came before the court and the second time the court declined…
Read Full Article 
Decatur native will become first Black woman on Illinois Supreme Court SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday that 4th District Appellate Justice Lisa Holder White has been appointed to succeed Justice Rita Garman, making her the first Black woman to serve on the state’s high court. “Being appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court is…
Read Full Article 
First downstate female judge has served on high court since 2001 SPRINGFIELD – Republican Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman announced Monday that she will retire on July 7, marking the end of a long legal career that has included 48 years as a jurist. She would have been up for retention this year, but…
Read Full Article 
QUINCY — A Quincy attorney has been suspended for one year by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois. A case summary on the ARDC website said that, during a dissolution of marriage case, Roni VanAusdall came to an agreement with opposing counsel concerning parenting time, prepared a proposed order…
Read Full Article 
The Illinois Supreme Court denied Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s appeal over his school mask mandates on Friday, determining that the lower court decisions were moot, vacating the temporary restraining order by the circuit court and remanding the case to the circuit court for further consideration. This decision likely brings to an end the litigation over mask mandates in…
Read Full Article 
Motion to consolidate cases challenging mandatory vaccination program made to Illinois Supreme Court
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has made a motion to the Illinois Supreme Court to consolidate several similar cases in Illinois counties into one that challenges the orders from the state of Illinois establishing a COVID-19 vaccination and testing program for school personnel, healthcare workers and state employees. A case involving employment claims from suspended…
Read Full Article 
By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – State courts in Illinois are preparing to return to normal operations after nearly 16 months of operating under special rules brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday issued two new rules that call for easing social distancing requirements and reimposing requirements for speedy…
Read Full Article