Illinois Case Commentaries

Enforceability of Driver Exclusion Endorsements in Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Analysis of Phoungeun Thounsavath v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

Date: Mar 23, 2018

Enforceability of Driver Exclusion Endorsements in Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Analysis of Phoungeun Thounsavath v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company Introduction In the landmark...

Supreme Court of Illinois Clarifies One Act, One Crime Rule in People v. Coats

Date: Jan 20, 2018

Supreme Court of Illinois Clarifies One Act, One Crime Rule in People v. Coats Introduction In the landmark case The People of the State of Illinois v. Leshawn Coats, 104 N.E.3d 1102 (Ill. 2018), the...

Reaffirming Private Search Doctrine in DUI Blood Draws: People v. Michael Brooks

Date: Dec 1, 2017

Reaffirming Private Search Doctrine in DUI Blood Draws: People v. Michael Brooks Introduction In the landmark case of People v. Michael Brooks, 104 N.E.3d 417 (Supreme Court of Illinois, 2017), the...

Affirmation of Locality Enhancement and Due Process in Public Defender Reimbursement: People v. Hardman

Date: Dec 1, 2017

Affirmation of Locality Enhancement and Due Process in Public Defender Reimbursement: People v. Hardman Introduction The case of The People of the State of Illinois v. Antoine Hardman, 104 N.E.3d 372...

Illinois Supreme Court Prohibits State Participation in Cause and Prejudice Stage for Successive Postconviction Petitions

Date: Oct 6, 2017

Illinois Supreme Court Prohibits State Participation in Cause and Prejudice Stage for Successive Postconviction Petitions Introduction The case of The People of the State of Illinois v. Dennis L....

Illinois Supreme Court Validates 'Family or Household Member' Definition for Aggravated Domestic Battery

Date: Sep 22, 2017

Illinois Supreme Court Validates 'Family or Household Member' Definition for Aggravated Domestic Battery Introduction In The People of the State of Illinois v. Matthew Gray, 91 N.E.3d 876 (2017), the...

Validating Pro Se Waivers: Rule 401(a) Compliance in People v. Eugene Wright

Date: Sep 22, 2017

Validating Pro Se Waivers: Rule 401(a) Compliance in People v. Eugene Wright Introduction People of the State of Illinois v. Eugene Wright (91 N.E.3d 826) is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court...

Illinois Supreme Court Reinforces Common-Law Forfeiture by Wrongdoing Doctrine Over Conflicting Statutory Provisions in People v. Drew Peterson

Date: Sep 22, 2017

Illinois Supreme Court Reinforces Common-Law Forfeiture by Wrongdoing Doctrine Over Conflicting Statutory Provisions in People v. Drew Peterson Introduction In the landmark case of The People of the...

Illinois Supreme Court Extends Miller v. Alabama to Discretionary Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentences

Date: Sep 22, 2017

Illinois Supreme Court Extends Miller v. Alabama to Discretionary Juvenile Life Without Parole Sentences Introduction The People of the State of Illinois v. Richard Holman is a landmark decision by...

Illinois Supreme Court Clarifies Application of Health Care Services Lien Act to Minor's Tort Recovery

Date: Sep 22, 2017

Illinois Supreme Court Clarifies Application of Health Care Services Lien Act to Minor's Tort Recovery Introduction In the landmark case of Akeem Manago, a Deceased Minor by and through April...

Mandatory Supervised Release Admonishments and Due Process: Insights from People v. Boykins (93 N.E.3d 504)

Date: Sep 22, 2017

Mandatory Supervised Release Admonishments and Due Process: Insights from People v. Boykins (93 N.E.3d 504) Introduction People v. Boykins is a landmark case adjudicated by the Supreme Court of...

Illinois Supreme Court Establishes Enhanced Plain Error Framework for Rule 431(b) Violations in Close Cases

Date: Jun 3, 2017

Illinois Supreme Court Establishes Enhanced Plain Error Framework for Rule 431(b) Violations in Close Cases Introduction In the landmark case of The People of the State of Illinois v. Montana Sebby,...

Illinois Supreme Court Mandates Individual Assessment of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims on Direct Review

Date: May 19, 2017

Illinois Supreme Court Mandates Individual Assessment of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims on Direct Review Introduction In the landmark case The PEOPLE of the State of Illinois v. Blackie...

Clarification of Willful and Wanton Conduct in Supervisory Immunity Claims

Date: Mar 24, 2017

Clarification of Willful and Wanton Conduct in Supervisory Immunity Claims Introduction The case of E v. n BARR, Appellee (89 N.E.3d 315) adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Illinois on March 23,...

Ayres v. The People: Affirming Pro Se Ineffective Assistance Claims Triggering a Krankel Inquiry

Date: Feb 18, 2017

Ayres v. The People: Affirming Pro Se Ineffective Assistance Claims Triggering a Krankel Inquiry Introduction In the landmark case of The People of the State of Illinois v. Qwantrell L. Ayres, 88...

Res Judicata and Waiver Bar Grievance Arbitration: The Village of Bartonville v. Lopez Decision

Date: Jan 21, 2017

Res Judicata and Waiver Bar Grievance Arbitration: The Village of Bartonville v. Lopez Decision Introduction The Village of Bartonville v. Salvador Lopez et al. (77 N.E.3d 639) is a pivotal judgment...

Castleberry Abolishes Void Sentence Rule: Implications for Timeliness of Relief from Judgment Petitions

Date: Dec 31, 2016

Castleberry Abolishes Void Sentence Rule: Implications for Timeliness of Relief from Judgment Petitions Introduction In the landmark case The People of the State of Illinois v. Damen Price, 76 N.E.3d...

Abuse of Discretion Standard Established for Jury Instruction Denials in PEOPLE v. McDONALD

Date: Dec 16, 2016

Abuse of Discretion Standard Established for Jury Instruction Denials in PEOPLE v. McDONALD Introduction People of the State of Illinois v. Stanley McDonald, 77 N.E.3d 26 (2016), adjudicated by the...

Affirmation of the Impact Rule in Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress Cases in Illinois

Date: Dec 16, 2016

Affirmation of the Impact Rule in Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress Cases in Illinois Introduction In the landmark case of MELINDA SCHWEIHS, Appellant, v. CHASE HOME FINANCE, LLC, et al. (77...

Reaffirmation of Parental Unfitness Standards in Involuntary Termination Cases: Insights from In re M.I., a Minor

Date: Dec 16, 2016

Reaffirmation of Parental Unfitness Standards in Involuntary Termination Cases: Insights from In re M.I., a Minor Introduction The case of In re M.I., a Minor (People of the State of Illinois,...