Illinois Case Commentaries

Illinois Supreme Court Clarifies Timing Requirements for Sexually Violent Persons Commitment: Anticipated vs. Actual Entry into Supervised Release

Date: Sep 23, 2005

Illinois Supreme Court Clarifies Timing Requirements for Sexually Violent Persons Commitment: Anticipated vs. Actual Entry into Supervised Release Introduction The case of In re Detention of Harold...

Affirming the Importance of District Financial Soundness in Charter School Approvals: CCS v. Rockford SD No. 205

Date: Sep 23, 2005

Affirming the Importance of District Financial Soundness in Charter School Approvals: CCS v. Rockford SD No. 205 Introduction The case of Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc. (CCS) v. Rockford...

Establishing Parental Unfitness: Insights from In re T.A., a Minor

Date: Sep 9, 2005

Establishing Parental Unfitness: Insights from In re T.A., a Minor Introduction In re T.A., a Minor (The People of the State of Illinois v. Aaron T. Washington), 359 Ill. App. 3d 953 (2005), is a...

State Farm v. Avery: Illinois Supreme Court Reinforces Uniform Policy Language for Class Certification and Demands Actual Damage in Consumer Fraud Claims

Date: Aug 19, 2005

State Farm v. Avery: Illinois Supreme Court Reinforces Uniform Policy Language for Class Certification and Demands Actual Damage in Consumer Fraud Claims Introduction In the landmark case State Farm...

Recharacterization of Pro Se Pleadings in Postconviction Proceedings: Shellstrom v. Illinois

Date: Jul 22, 2005

Recharacterization of Pro Se Pleadings in Postconviction Proceedings: Shellstrom v. Illinois Introduction Shellstrom v. Illinois, 216 Ill. 2d 45 (2005), is a landmark decision by the Supreme Court of...

Finality of Permanency Goals in Dispositional Orders: A New Precedent

Date: Jun 17, 2005

Finality of Permanency Goals in Dispositional Orders: A New Precedent Introduction The case of IN RE FAITH B. et al. (216 Ill. 2d 1) adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Illinois on June 16, 2005,...

Mandatory Compliance with Supreme Court Rule 651(c) in Postconviction Petitions: Insights from People v. Lander

Date: Jun 4, 2005

Mandatory Compliance with Supreme Court Rule 651(c) in Postconviction Petitions: Insights from People v. Lander Introduction The case of THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS v. DONALD A. LANDER, 215...

Illinois Supreme Court Establishes Res Judicata and Waiver as Grounds for Summary Dismissal in Postconviction Relief

Date: Jun 4, 2005

Illinois Supreme Court Establishes Res Judicata and Waiver as Grounds for Summary Dismissal in Postconviction Relief Introduction In the landmark case of The People of the State of Illinois v. Leon...

Affirmation of Judicial Integrity in Jury Instruction Standards: PEOPLE v. DURR

Date: May 20, 2005

Affirmation of Judicial Integrity in Jury Instruction Standards: PEOPLE v. DURR Introduction PEOPLE v. DURR, 215 Ill. 2d 283 (2005), adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Illinois, addresses pivotal...

Clarifying the 'Written Factual Basis' Requirement under Section 2-27(1) of the Juvenile Court Act

Date: May 20, 2005

Clarifying the 'Written Factual Basis' Requirement under Section 2-27(1) of the Juvenile Court Act Introduction The case of IN RE MADISON H., a Minor (215 Ill. 2d 364) adjudicated by the Supreme...

Broad Interpretation of "Distribution" in Harmful Material Statute: Supreme Court of Illinois Upholds Conviction

Date: May 20, 2005

Broad Interpretation of "Distribution" in Harmful Material Statute: Supreme Court of Illinois Upholds Conviction Introduction The case of The People of the State of Illinois v. Jeannie M. Ward (215...

Establishing Probable Cause Through Law Enforcement Expertise: Illinois v. Jones (2005)

Date: May 20, 2005

Establishing Probable Cause Through Law Enforcement Expertise: Illinois v. Jones (2005) Introduction Illinois v. Jones is a landmark case decided by the Supreme Court of Illinois on May 19, 2005. The...

Setoff Provision Interpretation in Uninsured-Motorist Coverage Under Illinois Law

Date: May 20, 2005

Setoff Provision Interpretation in Uninsured-Motorist Coverage Under Illinois Law Introduction The case of Teresa GILLEN v. STATE FARM Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, adjudicated by the Supreme...

Upholding the Two-Part Plain Error Doctrine in Jury Instructions: People v. Herron

Date: May 20, 2005

Upholding the Two-Part Plain Error Doctrine in Jury Instructions: People v. Herron Introduction People of the State of Illinois v. Nakia Herron (215 Ill. 2d 167) is a landmark decision by the Supreme...

Impact of Repeated Incarceration on Parental Fitness: Insights from IN RE GWYNNE P., a Minor

Date: May 20, 2005

Impact of Repeated Incarceration on Parental Fitness: Insights from IN RE GWYNNE P., a Minor Introduction The case of IN RE GWYNNE P., a Minor (215 Ill. 2d 340, 2005) represents a significant...

Enforceability of Business Use Exclusions in Illinois Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance

Date: Apr 22, 2005

Enforceability of Business Use Exclusions in Illinois Motor Vehicle Liability Insurance Introduction The case of Progressive Universal Insurance Company of Illinois v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance...

Pro Se Exception to Unauthorized Practice of Law Upheld Despite Charging Fees: Illinois Supreme Court Ruling

Date: Apr 22, 2005

Pro Se Exception to Unauthorized Practice of Law Upheld Despite Charging Fees: Illinois Supreme Court Ruling Introduction In the consolidated cases of WILLARD J. KING, JR., et al., v. FIRST CAPITAL...

Clarifying the Scope of Rule 402(f) in Plea Discussions: Hart v. The People of Illinois

Date: Apr 8, 2005

Clarifying the Scope of Rule 402(f) in Plea Discussions: Hart v. The People of Illinois Introduction In The People of the State of Illinois v. Eric L. Hart, 214 Ill. 2d 490 (2005), the Supreme Court...

Limits of Risk-Utility Analysis in Negligence-Based Defective Product Design Cases: GLEN BLUE v. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, INC.

Date: Apr 8, 2005

Limits of Risk-Utility Analysis in Negligence-Based Defective Product Design Cases: GLEN BLUE v. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, INC. Introduction The case of GLEN BLUE v. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, INC.,...

Supreme Court of Illinois Reinforces Waiver Principles in Chain of Custody Challenges for Drug Possession Convictions

Date: Apr 8, 2005

Supreme Court of Illinois Reinforces Waiver Principles in Chain of Custody Challenges for Drug Possession Convictions Introduction In the landmark case of The People of the State of Illinois v....