Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald and the Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday the creation of a Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Justice and Mental Health Planning to maximize the use of court and community resources in aiding the rehabilitation and treatment of accused offenders with mental health issues.
The Committee is generally charged with studying, reviewing and collaborating "on issues and matters related to mental illness and the justice system" with the aim of making recommendations to the Supreme Court.
Specifically, the Supreme Court has asked the Committee to formulate and prioritize recommendations in improving communication, data gathering and information sharing between the mental health and criminal justice systems. It is expected that members of the Committee will participate in the continuing statewide strategic planning process initiated by the Division of Mental Health of the Illinois Department of Human Services.
The Court also asked the committee to identify and consider appropriate diversion models for persons with mental illness and to report on what works best in Mental Health courts in Illinois, including how to continue care for persons with mental illness as they transition from the criminal justice system to mental health services.
Judges appointed to the Committee serve in the counties of Cook, Madison, Rock Island, St. Clair, Kankakee, Macon, Lake, McLean, Kane and Winnebago, but recommendations could affect criminal justice and mental health populations statewide.
Illinois Supreme Court
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April 27, 2010 |
Practice News
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April 15, 2010 |
Practice News
CIVIL
Carter v. SSC Odin Operating Company
By Michael T. Reagan, Herbolsheimer Lannon Henson Duncan and Reagan PC In Carter v. SSC Odin Operating Company, the high court ruled that the sections of the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act voiding a resident's waiver of the right to sue or to have a jury trial were ineffective to negate preemption by the Federal Arbitration Act. Though Carter was decided within the narrow confines of nursing-home litigation, its logic could affect a much broader range of preemption cases. For appellate lawyers, here's an interesting procedure point: the court said it was exercising jurisdiction pursuant to its supervisory authority. That was probably necessary because more than 21 days had expired after an initial denial of the petition for leave to appeal, during which time the Supreme Court of the United States had denied certiorari, and the Second District had issued a conflicting opinion. Case summary Supreme Court opinion 106511Slovinski v. Elliot
By Jean M. Prendergast, Schuyler, Roche & Crisham, P.C Civil practitioners will be wise to consider carefully Slovinsky v. Elliot, in which the Court refined the standard for reviewing remittitur and punitive damage awards, especially where the trial judge makes no specific findings. In this defamation per se case, the trial court reduced a $2 million jury award for punitive damages to $1 million. -
April 9, 2010 |
ISBA News
[caption id="attachment_9405" align="alignright" width="300" caption=""Justice with Precedence and Record""][/caption] The Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission has made reprints of "Justice with Precedence and Record" by Albert Krehbel, available for sale. The historic painting was used as the rendering for the century-old murals on the walls and ceilings of the Supreme Court courtroom. Four sizes are available ranging in price from $59-$249. Click here to read more about the painting. Click here to download the order form
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April 6, 2010 |
Practice News
The Supreme Court has posted the following opening for the position of Clerk of the Supreme Court of Illinois: The Clerk of the Supreme Court is an officer appointed by the Court (Ill. Const. 1970, Art. VI, § 18 (a)), reports to the Court, and serves at the Court’s pleasure. This senior level position is the Court’s principal case processing and records manager who operates the Clerk’s main office in Springfield and a satellite office in Chicago through a staff of 14 deputies which the Clerk recruits, selects, trains, and supervises, and by planning, developing, and implementing policies and procedures necessary to execute the responsibilities of the office. As case manager, the Clerk oversees and evaluates the functioning of four distinct automated dockets, and all associated processes, to ensure compliance with Supreme Court Rules and effective tracking and scheduling of cases from initiation to issuance of mandates and final orders. Relatedly, the Clerk interprets and applies relevant rules and compiles, analyzes, and reports statistics on the Court’s case load. As records manager, the Clerk is responsible for the Court’s active and closed files and permanent records, dating to 1818. The Clerk maintains the roll of attorneys, which includes the licensing process; registers and renews professional service corporations and associations, and limited liability companies and partnerships engaged in the practice of law; files judicial financial disclosure statements required of state court judges.
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March 23, 2010 |
Practice News
The Special Supreme Court Committee on Illinois Evidence will hold public hearings on proposed new rules codifying Illinois evidence law at the following locations:
- Tuesday, May 18, 10 a.m.: Supreme Court Building, 160 N. LaSalle, Room C-500, Chicago
- Thursday, May 20, 10 a.m.: Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, 3101 Old Jacksonville Road, Springfield
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March 17, 2010 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court disbarred seven lawyers, suspended nine and censured three in its latest disciplinary filing. More information on each case is available at the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Web site.
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March 14, 2010 |
Practice News
The Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts announced Friday that the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit judges voted to select Michael A. Wolfe as an associate judge of the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit. Mr. Wolfe received his undergraduate degree in 1981 from Marquette University, and his Juris Doctor in 1984 from John Marshall in Chicago. Mr. Wolfe is currently affiliated with the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office in Wheaton.
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March 10, 2010
[caption id="attachment_9405" align="alignright" width="300" caption="This historic painting was used as the rendering for the century-old murals on the walls and ceilings of the Supreme Court courtroom. Photo credit/Mark Skube"][/caption] The Illinois Supreme Court convened in special session on Tuesday to unveil an historic painting which was used as the rendering for the century-old murals on the walls and ceilings of the Supreme Court courtroom. Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald presided at the ceremony. The artwork, which had fallen into disrepair over the past 100 years, was donated by the family of the artist, Albert Krehbiel. Through the auspices of the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, the family also paid for all costs of restoration, framing and display. Justices Rita B. Garman and Anne M. Burke, Supreme Court liaisons to the Commission, spoke at the unveiling. Jerold Solovy, a well-known Chicago attorney and chairman of the Commission, also made comments. The art will be displayed for the public beginning today, March 10, in the former Illinois Appellate courtroom in the Supreme Court Building at 2nd Street and Capitol Avenue.
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March 5, 2010 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Arthur P. Wheatley as a Circuit Judge of Cook County, Seventh Subcircuit. This fills the vacancy created by the retirement of the Hon. Amanda Toney. Wheatley's term runs through Dec. 3, 2012.
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February 26, 2010 |
Practice News
The Illinois Supreme Court has amended its rules to provide a swifter means for achieving permanency and stability in child custody issues relating to divorce and parentage cases. The rules changes allow the appeal of custody issues even if other matters in those cases are unresolved. The situation often arises in marriage dissolution cases that can linger over issues of property, spousal support and other matters; or in parentage cases where decisions affecting the rights and persons other than the child may be unresolved. A primary change amends Supreme Court Rule 304 to allow a trial court’s permanent determination of custody to be appealed even if other issues in the underlying matter remain unresolved.