Jonathan Bilyk News
Constitution doesn't block Indiana's ban on gender transition procedures for kids: Appeals court
A divided federal appeals panel said the Indiana ban on surgeries, puberty blockers and other care do not violate parent's rights to direct their children's medical care nor the speech rights of doctors, dissolving a lower court's injunction blocking enforcement of the law
SAFE-T Act pretrial jailing appeals drop 88% after court rule changes; 'Found a sweet spot,' says task force chair
The number of appeals filed by criminal defendants seeking release from jail while they await trial dropped from 1,041 in January to mid-April to 154 in the three months following rule changes to ease the burden. The appeals numbers are still up significantly compared to years preceding Illinois' criminal justice system reforms
Cook County Dems cruise in five contested races for circuit court judge seats
While votes continue to be counted, Democratic candidates for judge in Cook County scored easy wins over Republican challengers in the handful of contested judicial races presented to voters this fall, including in the first contested general election race for countywide judge in 14 years
77 of 78 Cook County judges poised to retain seats on bench; O'Malley falling short
Of three Cook County judges touched by scandal in recent weeks, voters appeared poised to grant two - Kathy Flanagan and E. Kenneth Wright - new six-year terms on the bench. Judge Shannon O'Malley, however, appeared to be falling short of the required 60% "Yes" vote threshold, according to incomplete results
'Unconstitutional affront:' Federal judge strikes down Illinois 'assault weapons' ban
Saying the law falls far short under the Constitution, U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn entered an injunction which would block the state from enforcing Gov. Pritzker's ban on so-called 'assault weapons.' The ruling is stayed for 30 days, pending an expected appeal from the state
Two scandal-marked Cook County judges to be investigated by state
Cook County's chief judges recommended Judges E. Kenneth Wright and Shannon O'Malley be investigated by the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board. The JIB can recommend further action. The judges have been accused in a press report of living outside of Cook County, which could violate the state constitution
'Being safe is not a privilege:' O'Neill Burke wins State's Attorney's race, vows to 'set new standard'
Eileen O'Neill Burke won the race for Cook County State's Attorney. During her campaign, the former judge pledged to undo many of the policies put in place by outgoing State's Attorney Kim Foxx, who has been heavily criticized for being soft on crime and helping to fuel Chicago's and Cook County's crime problems
Judge mostly tosses effort to force IL elections authorities to make voter rolls more accurate
A Chicago federal judge said conservative groups don't have standing to sue Illinois state and county election officials for allegedly failing to live up to their obligations under federal election law to remove people who aren't eligible to vote from Illinois voter rolls
'Palpable injustice:' Appeals panel says Cook Co. judge wrongly allowed 'one-sided' trial vs restaurant owner
An IL state appeals panel says Cook County Judge Robert Harris wrongly moved ahead with a "one-sided" trial in which a Rogers Park restaurant owner was ordered to pay $500K to Loyola University amid a court fight over Loyola's alleged refusal to let him reopen a fine dining restaurant in 2021
Ethics complaint filed vs Pritzker over unconstitutional 'election interference' 'anti-slating' law
An Arlington Heights lawyer, who is running as a Republican for the state House, has filed an ethics complaint against Gov. JB Pritzker, accusing him of violating his professional responsibilities as a lawyer holding public office by supporting a state law Democrats sought to use to block challengers to their candidates
Federal judge asked to block IL law that restricts what employers can say to their workers
In a new filing, the Illinois Policy Institute and Technology and Manufacturing Association say the state has unconstitutionally set up a regime to allow labor unions and other political allies to speak, while silencing employers' speech on politics, public policy and religion in the workplace
IL state teacher scholarship program unconstitutionally excludes white applicants, lawsuit says
The American Alliance for Equal Rights filed the lawsuit in Springfield federal court, accusing the state of unconstitutionally discriminating against applicants who aren't racial minorities from participating in a state-funded scholarship program intended to increase the number of minority teachers in Illinois
'Abject failure:' Suburban prosecutor says SAFE-T Act fueling crime, letting people skip court
Outgoing McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally says Illinois Dems' signature criminal justice reform measures have resulted in increases in defendants committing crime while awaiting trial, or skipping court altogether. Supporters of the law called the critique "misleading" and "racist"
Lawyers who sued Bears over anti-white discrimination allege double cross by ex-paralegal plaintiff
The Trent Law Firm, which appeared to have secured a settlement with the Chicago Bears in a lawsuit over alleged anti-white hiring discrimination, has asked for a time out, as they say they are suing an ex-paralegal at the firm who they accuse of sabotaging the deal out of anger at the amount of legal fees
Glaub becomes first GOPer to run for countywide Cook judge since 2010, challenges DeCastro
Forty judgeships are on the ballot in Cook County this fall, but only five of those races are contested. Four of those contests are centered in judicial subcircuits based in Cook County's northwest suburbs. All other races feature Democrats running unopposed.
Judge peels off class action vs Kroger over effectiveness of lidocaine pain patches
A federal judge faulted prolific labeling fraud lawsuit filer attorney Spencer Sheehan for attempting to proceed with the class action by swapping out claims and plaintiffs, after the first claim didn't entirely pan out in court
IL counties can't end lawsuit accusing them of unconstitutionally taking homes over unpaid taxes
A Chicago federal judge said the counties can't beat the lawsuit by claiming they aren't violating the Constitution because state law allows private investors to keep the homes and the profits from the forced sales, not the governments themselves
Nursing homes can use Pritzker Covid orders to block suits over Covid deaths
The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled trial lawyers can't entirely sidestep emergency orders issued by Gov. JB Pritzker at the onset of the Covid pandemic to hit nursing homes with lawsuits over Covid deaths, even though the governor's orders appeared to protect them from such lawsuits
'A downward spiral': Biz groups, legal reformers urge IL high court to nix bid to kill anti-forum shopping rule
The filings come in response to an attempt by the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association to seize on a dispute over the constitutionality of a controversial state law to win a long sought policy goal, which would funnel lawsuits into Cook, Madison and St. Clair counties, in pursuit of bigger, easier verdicts
Scandal-struck prominent Cook County judges draw negative election recommendations from legal groups
The Illinois State Bar Association particularly recommended voters not support the retention bids this fall for Cook County Judges E. Kenneth Wright, Kathy Flanagan and Shannon O'Malley, aka Philip Spiwak. Other judges drawing negative reviews included Lisa Ann Marino and Ieshia E. Gray.