Justice Rita B. Garman of the Supreme Court of Illinois has begun an application process for a Resident Circuit Court vacancy in the Sixth Judicial Circuit.
The vacancy will be created by the retirement of Chief Judge Dan L. Flannell on January 13, 2017. Judge Flannell has been a Resident Circuit Judge since 1988.
Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursdays's Illinois Supreme Court opinions in the criminal case People v. McDonald and the civil cases Schweihs v. Chase Home Finance, LLC and In re M.I.
By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender
Defendant Stanley McDonald stabbed his partner, Larry Gladney, resulting in Gladney’s death. A paramedic who had responded to the scene testified that Gladney was very combative as they tried to treat him. Gladney smelled of alcohol and had needle track marks indicative of drug use. Later testing showed a BAC of .19 and cocaine in Gladney’s system. Gladney died two days later, with the cause being a stroke resulting from a stab wound to his right cheek which had damaged his carotid artery and caused a blood clot.
Justice Thomas L. Kilbride and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Trish Joyce as a Resident Circuit Judge in Whiteside County in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit.
Ms. Joyce was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. John L. Hauptman on December 5, 2016. Her appointment is effective December 21, 2016, and will conclude on December 3, 2018, when the position will be filled by the 2018 General Election.
Justice Kilbride recommended Ms. Joyce's appointment to the Supreme Court after an extensive application, evaluation and interview process that included the formation of a special judicial screening committee.
Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Patrick T. Stanton as a Cook County Circuit Judge in the 3rd Subcircuit.
Mr. Stanton was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Maureen Delehanty.
The appointment takes effect Jan. 1, 2017 and will conclude on Dec. 3, 2018, when the position will be filled by the 2018 General Election.
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman announced today the formation of a judicial screening committee for the Fifth 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 Judge of the Circuit Court for the Fifth Judicial Circuit created by the resignation of Judge Claudia Anderson on November 30, 2016. Under the Illinois Constitution, the vacancy will be filled by Supreme Court appointment.
Michael J. Tardy, Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, announced today that the Fourth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Amanda S. Ade-Harlow as associate judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit.
Ms. Ade-Harlow received her undergraduate degree in 2001 from the University of Illinois-Springfield in Springfield, Illinois and her Juris Doctor in 2003 from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. Ms. Ade-Harlow is currently affiliated with the Shelby County Public Defender's Office in Shelbyville, Illinois.
Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's top Illinois Supreme Court Civil opinions in In re M.M., Bueker v. Madison County Illinois, */ Beggs v. The Board of Education of Murphysboro Community Unit School District No. 186, Blanchard v. Berrios, Murphy-Hylton v. Lieberman Management Services, Inc. and Zahn v. North American Power & Gas, LLC.
By Joanne R. Driscoll, Forde Law Offices LLP
This case raises the procedural question of whether, in the adjudication of an abuse and neglect petition, the court has the authority to appoint a guardian for the minor when there has been no finding that a parent is unfit, unable or unwilling to care for the child. Answering the question “no,” the Illinois Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion, repudiated and overruled several cases that were in conflict.
Our panel of leading appellate attorneys review Thursday's top Illinois Supreme Court Criminal opinions in People v. Matthews and People ex rel. Alvarez v. Gaughan.
By Kerry J. Bryson, Office of the State Appellate Defender
Following an unsuccessful direct appeal and post-conviction petition, Jerrell Matthews filed a petition for relief from judgment pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-1401, alleging that a State witness had committed perjury at his trial. The circuit court dismissed the petition on the basis that it was untimely.
The proof of service that Matthews filed with the petition said that the petition was mailed to the State with “proper first-class postage”
The Illinois Supreme Court has announced the certification of three new problem-solving courts in Kendall, Peoria and Tazewell counties. These problem-solving courts – the Kendall County Drug Court, the Peoria DUI Court and the Tazewell County Mental Health Court – are the first to go through the Supreme Court's application and certification process. The more than 100 problem-solving courts already in operation will also go through the process.
In November 2015, the Supreme Court adopted statewide Standards to bring uniformity, accountability and administrative oversight to problem-solving courts in Illinois.
Also known as specialty or therapeutic courts, problem-solving courts provide an alternative forum for certain individuals in the criminal justice system, such as those with mental illness or substance abuse disorders. Problem-solving courts utilize a collaborative, therapeutic approach with justice professionals partnering with community treatment providers to address an individual's underlying behavioral health issues.
The Supreme Court of Illinois announced the filing of lawyer disciplinary orders on November 18, 2016, during the November Term of Court. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.