Supreme Court of Illinois Decisions
Seven justices serve on the Illinois Supreme Court, which is located in Springfield. The Court generally reviews appeals from the Illinois Appellate Court at its discretion, but it must hear an appeal when a case involves the constitutionality of a law. It also holds original jurisdiction over matters related to writs of mandamus and habeas corpus, as well as certain other narrow situations. The Chief Justice and the staff of the Supreme Court oversee the other Illinois courts. The Court works together with the Illinois legislature in making rules for the judicial branch.
To be qualified to serve as a justice on the Illinois Supreme Court, a candidate must be a U.S. citizen who is licensed to practice law in the state. They also must be a resident of the district in which they run for election. The Illinois legislature formerly required all justices (and other judges) to retire at the age of 75, but the Illinois Supreme Court struck down this rule in 2009. Justices serve 10-year terms, for which they are elected in partisan elections. Illinois is divided into five judicial districts for the purposes of these elections. The district that contains Chicago and Cook County elects three justices, while each of the other districts elects one justice. At the end of their term, a justice will receive another term if they secure at least 60 percent of the votes in a retention election. The justices of the Court elect the Chief Justice to serve a three-year term.
When a vacancy arises on the Court, the remaining justices will appoint an interim justice to fill the seat. Illinois is the only state in the U.S. that allows its state Supreme Court to make interim appointments to its own seats. To retain their seat, the interim justice must seek a full term in the first general election that is held more than 60 days after they are appointed.
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Recent Decisions From the Supreme Court of Illinois
Date: June 5, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130015
Docket Number: 130015
Justia Opinion Summary: Eugene Spencer was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, and home invasion for crimes committed on September 9, 2012, when he was 20 years old. He was convicted by a jury on March 5, 2019, and sentenced to…
Date: June 5, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130127
Docket Number: 130127
Justia Opinion Summary: Cecil Smart was indicted on three counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving a minor, J.P., who alleged that Smart molested him during two separate overnight stays in July 2018. The prosecution sought to…
Date: May 22, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130082
Docket Number: 130082
Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant, Robert D. Dyas, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession with intent to deliver more than 900 grams of methamphetamine. He later moved to withdraw his plea, but the Bureau County circuit court denied the…
Date: May 22, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130173
Docket Number: 130173
Justia Opinion Summary: In 2019, Deshawn Wallace was arrested after police found a handgun in his jacket during a traffic stop. Wallace did not have a Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card or a concealed carry license. He was charged with…
Date: May 22, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130596
Docket Number: 130596
Justia Opinion Summary: Elsa M. Tronsrue filed for dissolution of marriage from George M. Tronsrue III, and George filed a counterpetition. In 1992, the Du Page County circuit court entered a judgment for dissolution of marriage, incorporating…
Date: May 22, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130775
Docket Number: 130775
Justia Opinion Summary: A 16-year-old high school student was convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) of cannabis following a bench trial in the circuit court of Lake County, Illinois. The student was also convicted of improper lane…
Date: May 22, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130862
Docket Number: 130862
Justia Opinion Summary: Restaurant patrons filed personal injury lawsuits after becoming ill from eating contaminated cilantro. The distributor, Martin Produce, Inc., who sold the cilantro to the restaurants, filed a third-party complaint for…
Date: May 22, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130866
Docket Number: 130866
Justia Opinion Summary: Antonio Cousins Jr. was charged in Peoria County with aggravated discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon in one case, and being an armed habitual criminal, unlawful possession of a weapon by…
Date: May 22, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130931
Docket Number: 130931
Justia Opinion Summary: The appellant, a mother of two minor children, regained custody of her children through a federal district court action in Illinois under the Hague Convention and ICARA after the children were wrongfully removed from…
Date: May 22, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130946
Docket Number: 130946
Justia Opinion Summary: The defendant, Tyrell Derrious Cooper, was charged with aggravated battery, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. The State filed a petition to deny his pretrial release,…
Date: April 24, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 129967
Docket Number: 129967
Justia Opinion Summary: Travaris T. Guy was convicted of attempted first degree murder and second degree murder for the shooting of David Woods Sr. and Sheena Woods. The jury found that Guy acted with the intent to kill but also believed his…
Date: April 24, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130207
Docket Number: 130207
Justia Opinion Summary: Jatterius L. Yankaway was arrested on April 7, 2020, for allegedly shooting Robert Hunter on July 26, 2019. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois Supreme Court had tolled speedy-trial terms in criminal proceedings.…
Date: April 24, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 130351
Docket Number: 130351
Justia Opinion Summary: Ralph Harris was convicted in three separate cases involving murder, attempted robbery, and aggravated criminal sexual assault. He filed an omnibus motion to suppress his confessions, alleging they were obtained through…
Date: April 24, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 30539
Docket Number: 30539
Justia Opinion Summary: A firearms dealer in Madison County filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Attorney General, challenging the constitutionality of a state statute known as the Firearms Industry Responsibility Act. The plaintiff argued that…
Date: April 9, 2025
Citation: 2025 IL 131480
Docket Number: 131480
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
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