Illinois General Assembly
State Government: Elected Officials | State Legislative Bodies
Recent News About Illinois General Assembly
-
Prominent election lawyer, Madigan ally Kasper wades into Proviso school board election fight
Attorney Michael Kasper, who has for the decades represented Michael Madigan and other prominent Illinois Democrats, is now representing longtime controversial Proviso school board member Theresa Kelly in her effort to use a recount to find enough votes to keep the seat she has held for 23 years -
McHenry Co. State's Atty fights to keep alive his lawsuit challenging IL 'assault weapons' ban
McHenry County State's Attorney Patrick Kenneally sued the state because he believes the 'assault weapons' ban has left his office in untenable position of enforcing unconstitutional law. But Attorney Gen. Kwame Raoul admitted in court that Kenneally, other state's attorneys have no obligation to enforce the gun ban -
IL A/G asks appeals court to reinstate 'assault weapons' ban, says S IL judge's ruling leaves IL at risk
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul has asked the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals to stay the injunction entered by District Judge Stephen McGlynn, which had blocked the state from enforcing its ban on so-called 'assault weapons' -
Another judge says IL free to ban 'assault weapons' under 2nd Amendment because the guns are 'particularly dangerous'
U.S. District Judge Lindsay Jenkins says the law holds up, even under recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings, because the country has a history of banning 'particularly dangerous' weapons, so the Illinois law doesn't violate the Second Amendment -
Appeals court turns down bid for injunction vs IL 'assault weapons' ban while appeal of Chicago judge's ruling continues
The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals didn't explain its decision. But the order leaves in place, for now, a Chicago federal judge's ruling that the Second Amendment doesn't apply to particularly "dangerous" weapons, like the semiautomatic firearms banned by the new Illinois law -
Two new Dem IL Supreme Court justices refuse to step aside on hearing 'assault weapons' ban case
Justices Elizabeth Rochford and Mary K. O'Brien said plaintiffs can't prove they are biased in favor of the state gun ban, just because they each received $1 million in campaign donations from Gov. JB Pritzker and strong endorsements from gun control organizations in the 2022 elections -
Battle over IL gun ban expanding, setting stage for big showdown to come before Chicago fed appeals court
Lawyers for gun makers' trade group, the National Sports Shooting Foundation, and others have filed briefs seeking to undo a Chicago federal judge's order largely upholding the Illinois "assault weapons" ban, saying the reasoning doesn't hold up under the U.S. Supreme Court's recent rulings -
Who benefits from Illinois' biometrics privacy law? Mostly trial lawyers, new report says
A report from the Chamber of Progress, which speaks for many "progressive" minded big tech and ecommerce companies, says Illinois' controversial Biometric Information Privacy Act has harmed Illinois' economy and limited access to new tech offerings in the state, while enriching lawyers -
Two new Dem IL Supreme Court justices asked to step aside from hearing challenge to IL 'assault weapons' ban
Lawyers for plaintiffs say Justices Rochford and O'Brien both accepted millions in campaign contributions and endorsements from Gov. Pritkzer, other top Dems, and gun rights activists, making it difficult for public to believe they can be impartial on gun ban challenges -
'We can't do this anymore:' Business groups warn of economic fallout from IL biometrics lawsuits, call for reform
A coalition of business groups say potentially massive class action lawsuits under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, unbridled by the Illinois Supreme Court, are threatening the ability of Illinois to attract new business and new tech, and may lead to closures of nursing homes and other key businesses -
'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 -
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 -
Prosecutors ask IL Supreme Court to declare SAFE-T Act unconstitutional 'overreach,' weakens judges' power to safeguard the public
Sheriffs and prosecutors from 64 counties argue in a new brief that cash bail is enshrined in the state constitution, and can't be deleted without a vote of the people, simply because Democrats in the Illinois General Assembly say so -
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 -
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 -
IL A/G appeals gun ban restraining order; Another 1,690 plaintiffs line up to seek a similar order in another lawsuit
Attorney Tom DeVore and the Illinois Attorney General's office will square off in court in southern Illinois again on Wednesday, as DeVore seeks another temporary restraining order on behalf of 1,600 more gun owners and shop owners throughout Illinois -
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 -
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies’ Patrick Martin Elected to Board of Managers, YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
Patrick Martin, managing director of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, has been elected to the Board of Managers for the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. -
Pritzker signs Illinois gun ban as opponents prepare to sue
Gov. JB Pritzker quickly signed into law a new measure that would prohibit the sale of many firearms and require registration of prohibited guns if they are already owned. Gun owners rights groups promised to overthrow the law in court, calling it unconstitutional overreach by the state's Democratic supermajority -
A responsible Illinois General Assembly would be adopting rules similar to the new U.S. House rules
No Illinoisans other than those now in charge in Springfield would object to rules requiring three days to read bills before they can be voted on, writes Mark Glennon, of Wirepoints