Jonathan Bilyk News
IL Supreme Court justices hear arguments over cash bail abolition
The justices will decide if state lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker had the authority to simply abolish cash bail, despite constitiutional language and past constitutional amendments appearing to assume the existence of the system
'Serious risk of bias?' Pritzker bristles, but legal community has long sought new rules for judge recusal over campaign cash
Gov. JB Pritzker said it was "ridiculous" to ask if two Illinois Supreme Court justices should step aside from hearing constitutional challenges over cash bail and 'assault weapons' bans. But a never-enacted rule change recommended by the Illinois State Bar Association may have called for precisely that, because of Pritzker's campaign donations to the justices
Under lawsuit, Cook County 'rescinds' small biz Covid relief grant distribution based on race, gender, other characteristics
A Chicago chiropractor had sued Cook County over the Grow Grant program, which the county said would distribute $71M in federal Covid relief funds to thousands of small businesses, using guidelines prioritizing businesses owned by Black, LGBTQ and other 'historically excluded' populations
Naperville gun shop owner appeal asks court for order blocking IL 'assault weapons' ban
A Chicago federal judge was wrong to say the state can 'evade' the Second Amendment and prior Supreme Court decisions by simply declaring certain guns as 'particularly dangerous,' the appeal says
'Recipe for increases in crime': Chicago cops warn IL Sup Ct cash bail abolition tramples courts, cops, favors criminals
The Chicago Fraternal Order of Police union filed a brief backing the constitutional challenges to the provisions in Illinois' SAFE-T Act abolishing cash bail. They warn Illinois should expect much more crime if the state is allowed to abolish cash bail, an action the police argue is unconstitutional
Lake County judge rejects dance studio owner's defamation claim vs Buffalo Grove LGBTQ activist
The judge found Facebook comments posted by local activist Carolyn Pinta attacking dance teacher Louise Taitz for "hate" speech that leads to LGBTQ suicide, and encouraging people to take their business elsewhere could be "innocently construed" as protected opinion
BNSF: IL Supreme Court ruling means courts can choose not to order 'annihilative' payouts in fingerprint scan class actions
Lawyers for BNSF Railway are pushing to undo a $238 million verdict in favor of 45,000 truckers, who claim BNSF violated Illinois' biometrics privacy law by making them scan fingerprints to access rail yards. Plaintiffs, though, say the verdict should've been $807M
Pritzker, Raoul: No 'fundamental right' to own, sell 'assault weapons' in IL, ask IL high court to toss TRO
Gov. JB Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul have asked the Illinois Supreme Court to immediately vacate a temporary restraining order upheld by a state appeals court, which had ruled the state ban on "assault weapons" trampled the state constitution
4th Ward Chicago Ald. candidate seeks $12M from Preckwinkle, 4th Ward Dems for alleged defamatory mailers
The campaign mailers allegedly falsely claim 4th Ward Chicago alderman candidate Ebony Lucas faces substantial IRS tax liens, contractor liens and court fines; All fictional claims, Lucas says
Lawsuit accuses Palos Hills of ignoring female cops' gender discrimination complaints
Four female police officers in the city of Palos Hills say they've been subjected to bullying, demotion, discipline and rumors at the hands of their male superiors since at least 2012
IL high court: Concerns over 'absurd,' 'annihalitive' payouts no reason to limit damage claims under IL biometrics law
Divided IL Supreme Court has ruled trial lawyers can demand employers pay potentially billions of dollars in damages covering every fingerprint scan, not just first one. Businesses who don't like it need to ask lawmakers to change the law, court says
City of Chicago: Supreme Court's Dobbs decision should end 'bodily autonomy' claims vs Covid vax mandates
Mayor Lori Lightfoot loudly led the torrent of angry criticism of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v Wade. But the city is now citing that ruling in seeking to dismiss lawsuits by city workers opposing the city's Covid vaccine mandate
Jury awards $99K to CTA electrician who claimed agency did little to address complaints of racial discrimination, harassment
The electrician claimed he was subjected to nearly two years of alleged mistreatment from co-workers, including allegedly finding a noose hanging at a job site, after he complained about alleged discrimination from his foreman
IL Supreme Court: Biometrics class actions can include claims over five years, not just one
The decision turned back another effort by businesses to limit the reach and impact of the state's stringent biometrics privacy law, which has been used to target thousands of businesses with massive class actions, primarily over employee fingerprint scans when punching time clocks
McHenry Co. State's Attorney sues state over gun ban, says would force unconstitutional prosecutions
McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally says Illinois' so-called "assault weapons" ban violates the Second Amendment, seeks order blocking enforcement of the law statewide
Heavy hitters tee up lawsuits in federal court to strike down IL gun ban law
Two new lawsuits were filed in federal court in Southern Illinois, where the National Rifle Association and a coalition of Illinois gun owner rights groups each asserted in separate actions that the new law backed by Gov. JB Pritzker is 'blatantly unconstitutional' and tramples Illinoisans' Second Amendment rights
Effingham judge puts IL gun ban law on hold for 800+ plaintiffs who signed on to legal challenge
The ruling from the southern Illinois court is the first blow to Illinois' law banning so-called "assault weapons" and so-called "large capacity magazines." The law, regarded by gun owner advocates and others as unconstitutional, is expected to face other challenges in federal and state court in coming weeks
Aurora Pride says city unconstitutionally hassled, boosted costs for Pride Parade over organizers' anti-cop positions
A new federal lawsuit asks a judge to declare Aurora's Special Events Ordinance unconstitutional for giving city officials too much leeway to retaliate against groups whose speech the officials find objectionable
Settlement: Reformers to pay state $525K for opposing Pritzker's effort to end fed oversight of state hiring
The deal between reform advocates Michael Shakman and Paul Lurie and the state of Illinois was announced by a federal judge
Downstate lawsuits challenge IL 'assault weapons' ban, say it violates IL, U.S. constitutions, defies SCOTUS
Lawsuit filed in Effingham County entirely on the basis of the Illinois state constitution seeks an emergency court order blocking enforcement of Illinois Democrats' gun sale and ownership restrictions. Hearing set for Jan. 18 on TRO