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COOK COUNTY RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Latest News


S. IL federal judges rescind policies critics said discriminated vs white male lawyers

By Jonathan Bilyk |
In letters to their chief judge, the federal judges acknowledged the policies, which encouraged law firms to allow young lawyers, who are female or non-white, to argue cases at least created a perception of discrimination 

'De facto invisible': High costs, court rules, lack of online access can block public from monitoring 'public' court proceedings

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A settlement has resolved a class action vs federal courts over fees charged to access online court documents. But high costs for certain records and varying court rules about public access to court records in Illinois and elsewhere create a legal patchwork that mostly limits public view into the courts

Spyropoulos wins circuit court clerk race, becomes latest to pledge to modernize, restore trust in embattled office

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Mariyana Spyropoulos rode big support from Cook County Democratic Party to defeat incumbent one-term incumbent Iris Martinez

Foxx's No. 2 Lanier loses bid for bench; Cook voters select nominees for 40 open county judgeships

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Only 13 of the 40 open Cook County judgeships produced contested races in the March Democratic primary election. Republicans field candidates for only four judgeships in two suburban subcircuits.

Bring Chicago Home headed to defeat, in big loss for Mayor, political allies

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Votes were still being counted, but as of Wednesday morning, nearly 54% of Chicago voters had voted to reject the controversial Bring Chicago Home referendum, strongly backed by Mayor Brandon Johnson and his political allies at the Chicago Teachers Union, among others

Cunningham cruises to win in Cook Dem IL Supreme Court race; GOPer Holder White unopposed in 4th District

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Illinois Supreme Court justices Joy V. Cunningham and Lisa Holder White - the state's first two black female high court justices - are expected to secure 10-year terms on the court. Cunningham was appointed to replace ex-Chief Justice Anne Burke; Holder White appointed to replace retired Justice Garman

Chicago City Hall sues Glock, says gunmaker to blame for exacerbating city's 'epidemic' of gun violence

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The administration of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has partnered with anti-gun activists to sue firearms manufacturer Glock under Illinois' new consumer fraud law specifically allowing gunmakers to get sued. Glock becomes latest company to be blamed in lawsuits for Chicago's societal woes

IL courts hit with avalanche of pre-trial jail appeals under SAFE-T Act; Rules rewritten to ease 'staggering' burden

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The Illinois Supreme Court has rewritten rules governing how criminal defendants can appeal judges' decisions to keep them locked up while they await trial, after such appeals rose from 171 in the past 10 years to more than 1,900 in the past five months under Illinois Democrats' SAFE-T Act

Judge blocks big piece of IL Dems' temp worker regulation law

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A Chicago federal judge ruled that major changes to Illinois' law regulating temp workers and day laborers can't take effect because they are preempted by federal law 

IL Supreme Court asked to hear cross-appeals on judge’s order declaring forum law unconstitutional

By Heather Isringhausen Gvillo |
Madison County Associate Judge Ronald Foster’s order declaring Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s forum law is unconstitutional for plaintiffs residing or injured outside of Cook and Sangamon Counties has been appealed directly to the Illinois Supreme Court by both parties for separate reasons.

Realtors to pay $418M to end home seller commission class action; Big changes coming to home sale process

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Lawyers who brought the lawsuits could be in for a big payday, as well, potentially claiming $140 million from the deal, plus $69 million from earlier settlements with large real estate brokerages facing similar claims of alleged collusion to boost real estate agent commissions

Lawsuits claim Henyard mistreated, fired workers in Dolton, Thornton Township for refusing illegal schemes

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Three ex-Dolton village and Thornton Township workers claim Dolton Mayor and Thorntown Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard demanded they perform illegal acts, then allegedly harassed them, and ultimately fired them for refusing.

Ex-megachurch pastor's defamation claims vs opposing lawyers doesn't end attorney-client privilege: Appeals court

By Scott Holland |
The decision means ex-Harvest Bible Chapel pastor James MacDonald can't get access to certain documents he claims he needs to see to press his legal claims against the church's former lawyers.

Foster declares Pritzker's venue law unconstitutional, refuses to transfer firearm liability challenge to Sangamon County

By Heather Isringhausen Gvillo |
Madison County Associate Judge Ronald J. Foster Jr. declared Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s forum law favoring Cook and Sangamon County is unconstitutional and denied Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s motion to transfer an Alton gun store’s constitutional challenge to both the venue law and the firearm liability law.

Bring Chicago Home votes will be counted after IL Supreme Court nixes challengers' bid for appeal

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The decision lets stand an appellate court's ruling that Illinois residents cannot ask courts to review before the election any referendum questions placed on the ballot by the Chicago City Council or other elected "legislative" bodies, "regardless of how blatantly unconstitutional"

Bears sued for discriminating vs white males in 'Diversity' job post limited to 'people of color,' women

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The lawsuit was filed in Chicago federal court, and accused the Chicago Bears of violating state and federal anti-discrimination laws by listing non-white race and 'female' as required job qualifications for a "Diversity Legal Fellow" job opening with the organization

Opponents to Chicago property sales tax hike referendum ask IL Supreme Court to step in

By Jonathan Bilyk |
Business groups argued an appellate court's decision reinstating the referendum on the ballot would effectively allow the Chicago City Council and other lawmaking bodies across the state to place any referendum questions on any ballot they wish, regardless if the questions are constitutional

Foxx's No. 2 Risa Lanier seeks judgeship; Lands on list of judicial candidates rated 'Not Qualified' by state bar association

By Jonathan Bilyk |
According to an evaluation published by the Illinois State Bar Association, Risa Lanier, First Assistant to Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, was rated "Not Qualified" in part because of other lawyers' concerns over her "honesty" and "poor decision making"

IL Supreme Court: Hockey club that rents ice arena can be sued under IL human rights law for 'banishing' teen diagnosed with depression

By Jonathan Bilyk |
The Illinois Supreme Court says the teen's mental health diagnoses mean she could be protected by the IL Human Rights Act's anti-discrimination provisions protecting access to "places of public accommodation." Objectors contended such reasoning could open broad range of private organizations to lawsuits, violating First Amendment

Parents drop lawsuit accusing Skokie Fairview District 72 of racism; District called accusations 'repugnant,' 'baseless'

By Jonathan Bilyk |
A group of parents appear to have ended their lawsuit against Skokie Fairview Elementary School District 72, in which they had accused school officials of 'white supremacism,' in part for refusing to accede to demands for 'anti-racism' training for students and staff in response to alleged racist student behavior