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.

Browse Opinions From the Supreme Court of Illinois

Recent Decisions From the Supreme Court of Illinois
M.U. v. Team Illinois Hockey Club, Inc.  
Date: March 8, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 128935
Docket Number: 128935

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, a minor identified as M.U., through her parents, filed a complaint against Team Illinois Hockey Club, Inc. and the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois, Inc., alleging that they violated Section 5-102(A)…

People v. Fair  
Date: February 16, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 128373
Docket Number: 128373

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois affirmed the lower courts' decisions denying Darrell Fair's claim of torture. Fair, who had been convicted of a felony, appealed the circuit court’s denial of his…

People v. Huff  
Date: February 1, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 128492
Docket Number: 128492

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, Richard Huff, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, filed a pro se postconviction petition alleging that his life sentence was unconstitutional under Apprendi v. New Jersey. The petition was…

People v. Frey  
Date: January 19, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 128644
Docket Number: 128644

Justia Opinion Summary: In this case, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the appellate court's decision, affirming the trial court's decision to allow the postconviction counsel to withdraw and to dismiss the postconviction petition. The…

State ex rel. Raoul v. Elite Staffing, Inc.  
Date: January 19, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 128763
Docket Number: 128763

Justia Opinion Summary: In the case before the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, the State of Illinois, represented by the Attorney General, alleged that Elite Staffing, Inc., Metro Staff, Inc., and Midway Staffing, Inc. (collectively,…

People v. Chatman  
Date: January 19, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129133
Docket Number: 129133

Justia Opinion Summary: In the case before the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, the court deliberated on the admissibility of hearsay evidence under the forfeiture by wrongdoing exception. The defendant, Micheal D. Chatman, was charged…

In re Marriage of Arjmand  
Date: January 19, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129155
Docket Number: 129155

Justia Opinion Summary: This appeal arises from a prolonged divorce proceeding in Illinois. The appellant, Masud M. Arjmand, sought to dissolve his marriage to Muneeza R. Arjmand in 2009. In the course of the proceedings, the appellant filed…

City of Rock Falls v. Aims Industrial Services, LLC  
Date: January 19, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129164
Docket Number: 129164

Justia Opinion Summary: In the case before the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois, the City of Rock Falls filed a petition against Aims Industrial Services, LLC. The petition sought to enforce compliance with a City ordinance requiring the…

Waukegan Hospitality Group, LLC v. Stretch's Sports Bar & Grill Corp.  
Date: January 19, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129277
Docket Number: 129277

Justia Opinion Summary: In the case under consideration, the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois affirmed the dismissal of Waukegan Hospitality Group, LLC's appeal by the appellate court due to lack of jurisdiction. Waukegan Hospitality…

Arlington Heights Police Pension Fund v. Pritzker  
Date: January 19, 2024
Citation: 2024 IL 129471
Docket Number: 129471

Justia Opinion Summary: In the state of Illinois, a group of active and retired members of local police and firefighter pension funds filed a complaint against the Governor and other officials, challenging the constitutionality of Public Act…

People v. Devine  
Date: December 29, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 128438
Docket Number: 128438

Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant, Justin Devine, was convicted in the circuit court of Kane County of nonconsensual dissemination of private sexual images. He appealed to the appellate court arguing that the State failed to prove him…

People v. Grayer  
Date: December 29, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 128871
Docket Number: 128871

Justia Opinion Summary: During a bench trial, the defendant Santana Grayer was found guilty of attempted vehicular hijacking. On appeal, Grayer argued that the evidence was insufficient to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt because he…

Alave v. City of Chicago  
Date: December 14, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 128602
Docket Number: 128602

Justia Opinion Summary: In the case of Clark Alave v. The City of Chicago, the plaintiff, Clark Alave, filed a complaint against the City of Chicago after he was injured when his bicycle struck a pothole. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that…

People v. Wells  
Date: November 30, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 127169
Docket Number: 127169

Justia Opinion Summary: In 2001, Wells and her husband were charged with three counts of first-degree murder (720 ILCS 5/9- 1(a)(1), (2), (3)) and concealment of a homicidal death (9-3.1(a)) for allegedly murdering Weyrick and burying his body…

People v. Hilliard  
Date: November 30, 2023
Citation: 2023 IL 128186
Docket Number: 128186

Justia Opinion Summary: Hilliard was tried for attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm following the 2013 shooting of Killingsworth, who sustained two gunshot wounds in an unprovoked attack. The court removed…

The opinions published on Justia State Caselaw are sourced from individual state court sites. These court opinions may not be the official published versions, and you should check your local court rules before citing to them. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site, or the information linked to on the state site.

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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