Jonathan Bilyk News
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
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
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
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
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
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