Ann Maher News
Kolker sides with state labor in vacating Rauner's nullification of 'fair share'
St. Clair County Associate Judge Chris Kolker has ruled that Gov. Bruce Rauner's executive order prohibiting the collection of union dues from non-union state workers violates collective bargaining agreements.
New laws set to take effect Jan. 1 include ban on part-time participation in IMRF
More than 200 new laws will take effect in Illinois on Jan. 1, including one that restricts part-time office holders, whether elected or appointed, from participating in or receiving benefits from the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF).
Reaction to tax bill is as partisan as votes taken to get through Congress
How the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will affect average income earners and small businesses depends on who you ask, as reaction in the days following its passage is as partisan as the votes taken to get the bill through Congress.
Judge Kolker donates to charities at Christmas
St. Clair County Associate Judge Chris Kolker announced that a family tradition of donating money to charities rather than exchanging gifts continued this year.
School administrators dominate top 20 list of highest paid state workers in St. Clair County
Cahokia School District 187 spends $50 million per year to teach approximately 1,846 students, and while some of its administrators are among the highest paid public sector workers in the county, a recent report card on student achievement shows dismal results.
Edwardsville attorney applauds new law reducing fees for LLCs
The cost of doing business in Illinois has gone down under new legislation signed into law last week by Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Hylla named to commission on pretrial reform of criminal justice system
Madison County Chief Judge Dave Hylla is among members of a new commission that will make recommendations on pretrial reform of the state’s criminal justice system.
Janus v. AFSCME oral arguments scheduled Feb. 26 at Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court announced it will hear oral arguments in Janus v. AFSCME on Feb. 26, in a case challenging the constitutionality of compulsory union dues for state government workers.
Local governments challenged by underfunded pension plans; Candidate for governor calls for amending constitution
With Illinois homeowners paying close to the highest property taxes in the country, and its residents shouldering the highest public pension debt relative to income, how local governments deal with the growing problem is a tale of two cities, so to speak.
Beiser stepping down from State House one year early; Bristow appointed Monday
State Rep. Dan Beiser (D-Alton) has resigned the seat he has held since 2004, likely providing the benefit of incumbency for the Democrat candidate seeking to succeed him.
Supreme Court: Pro se civil litigants without access to computer can be exempted from e-filing
As the new year approaches with a requirement that all civil litigation documents be electronically filed at the circuit court level, the Illinois Supreme Court announced a change for self-represented, or pro se, litigants.
Evans says candidacy prompted by need for change in courthouse status quo
An O’Fallon attorney running for a circuit court vacancy in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit said in an announcement of his candidacy that he will be “an independent voice focused solely on the cases, ruling only on the law and facts.”
Judicial vacancies in St. Clair and Madison counties filled in with candidates
With the candidate filing period for the spring primary having closed on Monday, results indicate that the entire slate of circuit court vacancies in Madison and St. Clair counties will see contests in the November general election.
Local family vacationing in Branson questions why an MCT vehicle was parked at entertainment venue Grand Country
A Chevy Silverado bearing the name "Madison County Transit" was spotted in the parking lot of a Branson entertainment venue over the weekend, and prompted a local family vacationing there to ask for an explanation.
Fifth District awards line-of-duty disability benefits to police detective injured in non-emergency auto accident
A Shiloh police detective injured when the squad car he was riding in as a passenger was rear-ended at a stop light is entitled to line-of-duty disability pension benefits.
O'Fallon attorney opens probate cases for sisters killed in I-55 crash
O'Fallon attorney Robert Marcus has filed documents at Madison County Circuit Court to represent the estates of sisters who were tragically killed on southbound I-55 near Hamel after their vehicle was struck by a tractor trailer at around 6:15 p.m. on Nov. 21.
Belleville attorney Hoerner files for Fifth District Appellate Court; Overstreet also files
Belleville attorney Kevin Hoerner has submitted paperwork to run in the spring primary as a Democratic candidate for the Fifth District Appellate Court, in a seat being vacated by retiring Justice Richard Goldenhersh.
Lawyers competing for lucrative opioid litigation go before county Judiciary
Lawyers competing to represent Madison County in lucrative contingency fee litigation against manufacturers and distributors of opioid drugs touted their experience to members of the Judiciary Committee meeting on Friday.
Contingency fee debate continues over Madison County's potential opioid litigation
As state and local governments across the country contemplate how to go about pursuing litigation to offset costs of opioid addiction, a debate continues in Madison County over details of hiring outside lawyers to handle a potential lawsuit.
Judge from Fourth Circuit will preside over state's case against Duebbert
A judge from the Fourth Judicial Circuit will preside in the state's case against St. Clair County Circuit Judge Ronald Duebbert, according to an order signed by Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier on Nov. 7.