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: August 23, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 130769
Docket Number: 130769
Date: August 22, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129353
Docket Number: 129353
Justia Opinion Summary: In 1994, Johnny Flournoy was convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery for the 1991 killing of Samuel Harlib during a robbery at a used car dealership. After numerous unsuccessful appeals and an initial…
Date: June 6, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 128676
Docket Number: 128676
Justia Opinion Summary: Trenton Jefferson was tried for first degree murder in the circuit court of St. Clair County. The jury found him guilty but answered negatively to a special interrogatory asking if the State had proven beyond a…
Date: May 23, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 128731
Docket Number: 128731
Justia Opinion Summary: The case revolves around a dispute between Shawnee Community Unit School District No. 84 (the School District) and Grand Tower Energy Center, LLC (Grand Tower), the owner of a power plant in Jackson County, Illinois. For…
Date: May 23, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129183
Docket Number: 129183
Justia Opinion Summary: Tri-Plex Technical Services, Ltd., an Illinois corporation that develops, manufactures, distributes, and sells commercial-grade carpet cleaning products, filed a complaint against its competitors, including Jon-Don, LLC,…
Date: May 23, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129244
Docket Number: 129244
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Char M. Shunick, who was convicted of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. After his conviction, Shunick filed a…
Date: May 23, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129628
Docket Number: 129628
Justia Opinion Summary: A condominium resident suffered serious injuries due to a gasoline leak from an underground storage tank owned and operated by a gas station located over a mile away. The resident filed a lawsuit against the owners and…
Date: May 23, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129784
Docket Number: 129784
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves Antuan Joiner, who was convicted of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder following a 2014 bench trial in the circuit court of Cook County. The appellate court affirmed his convictions,…
Date: May 23, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129895
Docket Number: 129895
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves a dispute over the interpretation of a multi-vehicle insurance policy. The appellants, Mark and Karen Kuhn, were involved in a fatal accident with a semi-truck insured by the appellee, Owners Insurance…
Date: April 4, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129263
Docket Number: 129263
Justia Opinion Summary: The case involves the City of Joliet and five commercial truck drivers who were fined for violating city ordinances prohibiting overweight and/or overlength vehicles on nondesignated highways. The drivers challenged the…
Date: April 4, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129425
Docket Number: 129425
Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant, Korem M. Johanson, was found guilty of Class X felony predatory criminal sexual assault of a child following a bench trial in the circuit court of McHenry County. Before sentencing, Johanson argued that…
Date: March 21, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 127464
Docket Number: 127464
Justia Opinion Summary: This case concerns a challenge to an Illinois statute that prohibits child sex offenders from living within 500 feet of a day care home. The plaintiff, Martin Kopf, who in 2003 had pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal…
Date: March 21, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 127815
Docket Number: 127815
Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, defendant Demetrius Gray was convicted of the offense of being an armed habitual criminal. The appellate court reversed this conviction, contending that the prosecution failed to prove that Gray had two…
Date: March 21, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 128508
Docket Number: 128508
Justia Opinion Summary: This case involves a dispute between a grain producer, Robert Miller, and the Illinois Department of Agriculture over compensation from the Illinois Grain Insurance Fund. The fund is intended to compensate grain…
Date: March 21, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 128587
Docket Number: 128587
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2011, Shamar Griffin entered a guilty plea in the circuit court of Cook County, Illinois, to one count of first-degree murder in exchange for a 35-year sentence and the dismissal of additional charges. Several years…
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
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