Supreme Court of Illinois Decisions
Seven justices serve on the Illinois Supreme Court, which is located in Springfield. The Court generally reviews appeals from the Illinois Appellate Court at its discretion, but it must hear an appeal when a case involves the constitutionality of a law. It also holds original jurisdiction over matters related to writs of mandamus and habeas corpus, as well as certain other narrow situations. The Chief Justice and the staff of the Supreme Court oversee the other Illinois courts. The Court works together with the Illinois legislature in making rules for the judicial branch.
To be qualified to serve as a justice on the Illinois Supreme Court, a candidate must be a U.S. citizen who is licensed to practice law in the state. They also must be a resident of the district in which they run for election. The Illinois legislature formerly required all justices (and other judges) to retire at the age of 75, but the Illinois Supreme Court struck down this rule in 2009. Justices serve 10-year terms, for which they are elected in partisan elections. Illinois is divided into five judicial districts for the purposes of these elections. The district that contains Chicago and Cook County elects three justices, while each of the other districts elects one justice. At the end of their term, a justice will receive another term if they secure at least 60 percent of the votes in a retention election. The justices of the Court elect the Chief Justice to serve a three-year term.
When a vacancy arises on the Court, the remaining justices will appoint an interim justice to fill the seat. Illinois is the only state in the U.S. that allows its state Supreme Court to make interim appointments to its own seats. To retain their seat, the interim justice must seek a full term in the first general election that is held more than 60 days after they are appointed.
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Recent Decisions From the Supreme Court of Illinois
Date: September 21, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 128252
Docket Number: 128252
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2005, Joliet filed a complaint seeking to acquire, by eminent domain, a low-income apartment complex that was owned and managed by the plaintiffs. Following almost 12 years of litigation, Joliet acquired fee simple…
Date: September 21, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 128609
Docket Number: 128609
Justia Opinion Summary: Chicago police arrested Lozano, who was subsequently charged with burglary and possession of burglary tools. Lozano moved to suppress evidence (a car radio, a wallet, and two screwdrivers) arguing that when the officers…
Date: September 21, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 129067
Docket Number: 129067
Justia Opinion Summary: Jansen was a resident at a skilled nursing facility. Kotalik, with Jansen’s power of attorney for healthcare, signed a “Contract Between Resident and Facility” that provides all civil claims shall be resolved…
Date: August 11, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 129453
Docket Number: 129453
Justia Opinion Summary: The Protect Illinois Communities Act restricts firearms and related items that the Act defines as “an assault weapon, assault weapon attachment, .50 caliber rifle, or .50 caliber cartridge” (assault weapons), 720 ILCS…
Date: July 18, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 127952
Docket Number: 127952
Justia Opinion Summary: Washington and Hood were arrested in 1993; they were charged with armed robbery and murder. Washington, 19 years old, had no criminal record. He claims Chicago police detectives, subordinates of infamous Chicago…
Date: July 18, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 128004
Docket Number: 128004
Justia Opinion Summary: An employee alleged that her employer, White Castle, introduced a system that required its employees to scan their fingerprints to access their pay stubs and computers. A third-party vendor then verified each scan and…
Date: July 18, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 129248
Docket Number: 129248
Justia Opinion Summary: The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices made multiple recommendations to “ensure defendants are not denied liberty solely due to their inability to financially secure their release from custody.” In…
Date: June 15, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 127789
Docket Number: 127789
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part the judgment of the appellate court reversing the judgment of the circuit court granting the State's motion to dismiss Petitioner's appeal of the second-stage…
Date: June 15, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 127968
Docket Number: 127968
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the appellate court reversing the decision of the circuit court finding that the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination prevented the State from compelling…
Date: June 15, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 128077
Docket Number: 128077
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court affirmed the judgment of the appellate court dismissing Petitioner's appeal from the denial of his motion for leave to file a successive postconviction petition under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act,…
Date: June 15, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 128770
Docket Number: 128770
Justia Opinion Summary: The Supreme Court reversed in part the decision of the appellate court reversing the judgment of the circuit court in favor of PML Development LLC on its action against the Village of Hawthorn Woods for breach of a…
Date: June 2, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 127223
Docket Number: 127223
Justia Opinion Summary: Pinkett was charged with aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer after he failed to stop his motorcycle in response to police sirens and lights and traveled more than 21 miles per hour over the speed…
Date: May 18, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 126461
Docket Number: 126461
Justia Opinion Summary: Moore and Williams, both sentenced to life in prison without parole for separate murders committed when they were 19 years old, appealed from judgments denying them leave to file successive postconviction petitions…
Date: May 18, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 127241
Docket Number: 127241
Justia Opinion Summary: In 1983, Prante was convicted of a strangulation murder. The appellate court rejected Prante’s claim that the state’s expert testimony concerning bite marks should not have been admitted. In 1993, Prante filed a…
Date: May 18, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 127666
Docket Number: 127666
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2008, Graefnitz went with Wilson and Moore to buy drugs. Graefnitz was shot in the back and died from his wounds. Wilson was then 14 years old. The court granted a transfer motion, concluding that charging Wilson in…
