Jonathan Bilyk News
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
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
Google Photos settlement payments delayed; Judge to rule on objections to added ID requirements
Without action from the court, claims from class members could be "denied solely because they do not check their spam folder on Thanksgiving," wrote an objector in a new motion that has put the settlement on hold
IL Dems change law to allow vote-by-mail ballots to be counted in a way judge had said 'would be obvious way to commit fraud'
The changes come after a Republican state House candidate had sued the Democratic DuPage County Clerk, accusing her of illegally verifying signatures on mail-in ballots against signatures on the vote-by-mail ballot applications, and not the official voter registration records, as had been required by law
IL Supreme Court to hear arguments on SAFE-T Act bail elimination in March
The state high court will decide later this spring if state lawmakers illegally ignored the Illinois state constitution when they passed the SAFE-T Act
IL Supreme Court puts bail elimination on hold while appeal continues of ruling declaring law unconstitutional
The order maintains the current criminal cash bail system beyond Jan. 1 to avoid potential chaos that could have been created by a Kankakee judge's ruling and Democrats' refusal to put the law on hold while they appeal that ruling to the state Supreme Court
Downstate judges block cash bail abolition in their counties; DuPage, Kane state's attorneys ask IL Supreme Court to step in
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul called downstate court orders "11th hour theatrics" and an "abuse of the judicial process." The court orders relied on a Kankakee judge's decision saying Illinois Democrats violated the state constitution
Kankakee judge: SAFE-T Act elimination of cash bail unconstitutionally tramples peoples' rights, courts' authority
The judge ruled the Illinois state law represents an illegal attempt by Illinois Democrats to rewrite the state constitution; Attorney General Kwame Raoul will appeal to Illinois Supreme Court
Judge to decide if SAFE-T Act tramples IL constitution, people's rights, or if prosecutors' lawsuit mere 'policy dispute'
A Kankakee County judge said he will rule on the constitutional challenge to the sweeping criminal justice reforms under the so-called SAFE-T Act by Dec. 28
State's attorneys: IL Dems rewrote IL constitution by eliminating bail; IL A/G: SAFE-T Act protects constitutional rights
Legal teams representing 62 Illinois county prosecutors and the Illinois state officials have squared off with opposing filings in Kankakee County court, with the fate of the so-called SAFE-T Act at stake
Rochford wins big, O'Brien declares victory, giving Dems 5-2 majority on IL Supreme Court
Democrats Lake County Judge Elizabeth Rochford and Appellate Justice Mary K. O'Brien have prevailed in the races for two open seats on the Illinois Supreme Court, in their respective contests vs Republicans former Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran and incumbent Illinois Supreme Court Justice Michael Burke
No ruling on lawsuit vs IL vote-by-mail rules; Judge schedules Dec. 5 hearing over two-week mail-in ballot window
A federal judge said he needed more time and another hearing to determine if a group of Republicans should be allowed to continue suing the state over a law allowing mail-in ballots to be counted 14 days after Election Day
Filing: Raoul violating legal rules, law by giving 'conflicted' trial lawyers state power to help investigate insulin prices
Caremark and other pharmacy benefit managers have asked a Cook County judge to disqualify out-of-state trial lawyers hired by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul to assist with an investigation into insulin pricing practices. The companies say the lawyers could use the power of Raoul's office to help them in other lawsuits vs the companies
Appeal filing: IL A/G Raoul 'suppressing' lawsuit to recover $500K allegedly pilfered by ex-state worker connected to Pritzkers
The director of the Illinois State Police Merit Board says Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is blocking her attempt to recover $500,000 allegedly stolen by a former Merit Board employee and friend of the family of Gov. JB Pritzker, whose administration has allegedly aided the ex-worker
Ex-ISP office head: Reputation 'held hostage' by court hold on lawsuit over Pritzker-connected ex-worker's sex assault claims
Jack Garcia, ex-director of the Illinois State Police Merit Board, has asked a federal judge to lift a stay on his lawsuit vs Jenny Thornley, who is accused of manufacturing sex assault claims to thwart an investigation into alleged criminal conduct, and then used her ties to Gov. JB Pritzker to get Garcia removed
IL Supreme Court cites SAFE-T Act, throws out sentence that took into account prior juvy burglary conviction
The Illinois Supreme Court's Democratic majority said they believe the passage of the SAFE-T Act's criminal justice reforms reinforce conclusion that Democratic lawmakers meant to block courts from using prior juvenile convictions when sentencing people for crimes committed as adults
Judge blocks IL Dems' law to block out-of-state donations to judge campaigns
Democrats said the law was needed to maintain judicial integrity. A federal judge said he feared the law was actually motivated by a desire for the Democrats who dominate Springfield to "maintain the status quo" of Democratic control of the courts, not to fight corruption
Feds charge Madigan in new bribery conspiracy with AT&T, widening criminal case vs ex-Speaker, Democratic chairman
Under a newly unsealed indictment, former Illinois House Speaker and state Democratic Chairman Michael Madigan allegedly solicited bribes to benefit a former state lawmaker loyalist in exchange for helping AT&T rid itself of obligations to provide landline service in Illinois
Jury verdict: BNSF must pay $228M to truck drivers for rail yard gate security fingerprint scans
The verdict against railroad company BNSF ended the first such class action lawsuit taken to trial under Illinois' biometrics privacy law. BNSF vowed to appeal