Illinois Case Commentaries

Affirmation of Probable Cause Standards in Arrests: PEOPLE v. HOPKINS

Date: Dec 18, 2009

Affirmation of Probable Cause Standards in Arrests: PEOPLE v. HOPKINS Introduction In the landmark case The People of the State of Illinois v. Ralph Hopkins (235 Ill. 2d 453, 2009), the Supreme Court...

Affirming Forfeiture and Strict Plain Error Standards: PEOPLE v. McLAURIN (235 Ill. 2d 478)

Date: Dec 18, 2009

Affirming Forfeiture and Strict Plain Error Standards: PEOPLE v. McLAURIN (235 Ill. 2d 478) Introduction The People of the State of Illinois v. Willie McLaurin, 235 Ill. 2d 478 (2009), presents a...

Shipping Charges as Part of Selling Price Subject to Illinois Sales Tax Under ROTA and Use Tax Act

Date: Nov 20, 2009

Shipping Charges as Part of Selling Price Subject to Illinois Sales Tax Under ROTA and Use Tax Act Introduction In the case of Nancy Kean and Chip Russell v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the Supreme Court...

Clarifying the Double Enhancement Doctrine in Aggravated Kidnapping and Criminal Sexual Assault: Analysis of People v. Siguenza-Brito

Date: Nov 20, 2009

Clarifying the Double Enhancement Doctrine in Aggravated Kidnapping and Criminal Sexual Assault: Analysis of People v. Siguenza-Brito Introduction The case The People of the State of Illinois v....

Establishing the Actual Innocence Exception in Successive Postconviction Petitions in Illinois: PEOPLE v. ORTIZ

Date: Nov 20, 2009

Establishing the Actual Innocence Exception in Successive Postconviction Petitions in Illinois: PEOPLE v. ORTIZ Introduction In The People of the State of Illinois v. Salvador Ortiz, 235 Ill. 2d 319...

Judicial Expansion of Evidence Admission in Parental Rights Termination: A Comprehensive Analysis of In re JAY. H. et al., Minors

Date: Nov 10, 2009

Judicial Expansion of Evidence Admission in Parental Rights Termination: A Comprehensive Analysis of In re JAY. H. et al., Minors Introduction The appellate case In re JAY. H. et al., Minors (No....

Illinois Supreme Court Clarifies "New Rate" Definition Under Section 18-190 PTELL

Date: Oct 30, 2009

Illinois Supreme Court Clarifies "New Rate" Definition Under Section 18-190 PTELL Introduction In the landmark case of ACME MARKETS, INC., et al. v. KAREN CALLANAN, the Supreme Court of Illinois...

Blum v. Koster: Enhancing Maintenance Modifiability and Attorney Fee Contributions in Illinois Family Law

Date: Oct 9, 2009

Blum v. Koster: Enhancing Maintenance Modifiability and Attorney Fee Contributions in Illinois Family Law Introduction In Blum v. Koster, 235 Ill. 2d 21 (2009), the Supreme Court of Illinois...

Clarifying Voluntariness in Juvenile Confessions: Richardson v. People of Illinois

Date: Sep 25, 2009

Clarifying Voluntariness in Juvenile Confessions: Richardson v. People of Illinois Introduction In the landmark case of Richardson v. People of Illinois, the Supreme Court of Illinois addressed...

Retroactive Application of Statute of Limitations in Childhood Sexual Abuse Cases Affirmed by Illinois Supreme Court

Date: Sep 25, 2009

Retroactive Application of Statute of Limitations in Childhood Sexual Abuse Cases Affirmed by Illinois Supreme Court Introduction The case of John Doe A. v. Diocese of Dallas et al. (234 Ill. 2d 393)...

Imposition of Fines as Punitive Measures: Insights from The People v. Willie Graves

Date: Sep 25, 2009

Imposition of Fines as Punitive Measures: Insights from The People v. Willie Graves Introduction The People of the State of Illinois v. Willie Graves, 235 Ill. 2d 244 (2009), is a landmark case...

Illinois Supreme Court Reinforces Strict Pleading Standards for Defamation Per Se Claims

Date: Sep 25, 2009

Illinois Supreme Court Reinforces Strict Pleading Standards for Defamation Per Se Claims Introduction In the landmark case of John Green v. Steven Rogers, 234 Ill. 2d 478 (2009), the Supreme Court of...

Application of the One-Act, One-Crime Rule in Juvenile Proceedings: In re Samantha V.

Date: Sep 25, 2009

Application of the One-Act, One-Crime Rule in Juvenile Proceedings: In re Samantha V. Introduction The case of In re Samantha V., a Minor presents a pivotal moment in Illinois juvenile law,...

Ensuring Fair Trial: Enforcement of Discovery Obligations under Rule 412(a)(iv) – People v. Lovejoy

Date: Sep 25, 2009

Ensuring Fair Trial: Enforcement of Discovery Obligations under Rule 412(a)(iv) Introduction In the landmark case People of the State of Illinois v. Laurence E. Lovejoy (235 Ill. 2d 97, 2009), the...

Supreme Court of Illinois Rules Public Pension Agreements Excluded from Prejudgment Interest under the Interest Act

Date: Sep 25, 2009

Supreme Court of Illinois Rules Public Pension Agreements Excluded from Prejudgment Interest under the Interest Act Introduction In the landmark case of Maria Kouzoukas v. The Retirement Board of the...

Imposition of Street-Value Fines Without Evidentiary Basis is Reviewable as Plain Error: The People v. Terry L. Lewis

Date: Jul 16, 2009

Imposition of Street-Value Fines Without Evidentiary Basis is Reviewable as Plain Error: The People v. Terry L. Lewis Introduction The case of The People of the State of Illinois v. Terry L. Lewis...

Establishing the Arguable Basis Standard for Postconviction Relief in Strickland Claims – People v. Hodges

Date: Jul 16, 2009

Establishing the Arguable Basis Standard for Postconviction Relief in Strickland Claims – People v. Hodges Introduction In the landmark case People v. Richard Hodges, 234 Ill. 2d 1 (2009), the...

Illinois Supreme Court Adopts Harmless Error Analysis for Rule 431(b)(4) Violations in Jury Selection

Date: Jun 19, 2009

Illinois Supreme Court Adopts Harmless Error Analysis for Rule 431(b)(4) Violations in Jury Selection Introduction In the landmark case of The People of the State of Illinois v. Michael Glasper, 234...

Retaliatory Discharge and Public Policy: Insights from Mark Turner v. Memorial Medical Center

Date: Jun 19, 2009

Retaliatory Discharge and Public Policy: Insights from Mark Turner v. Memorial Medical Center Introduction The case of Mark Turner v. Memorial Medical Center (233 Ill. 2d 494) adjudicated by the...

Supreme Court of Illinois Governs Penalty Calculation for Out-of-State Employers Under UIFSA

Date: Jun 5, 2009

Supreme Court of Illinois Governs Penalty Calculation for Out-of-State Employers Under UIFSA Introduction The case of In re Marriage of Suzanne Gulla, Appellee, and Stephen Kanaval (Knobias, Inc.,...