The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear arguments in nine cases, including one from the Fifth District.
The nine cases present the justices with a variety of issues ranging from attorneys’ fees in divorce proceedings to whether juveniles can be incarcerated for unlawful consumption of alcohol.
Out of the nine cases, seven are civil and two are criminal in nature. The justices denied nearly 300 petitions for leave to appeal, including at least 10 from the Fifth District.
The only Fifth District case the court agreed to review deals with involuntary commitment.
This case --In re Lance H. – originated in Randolph County, where an evidentiary hearing was held in May 2011 on the state’s petition seeking Lance H.’s continued involuntary commitment for mental treatment.
At that hearing, Lance H. testified that he wanted to become a voluntary patient at Chester Mental Health Center. The trial court granted the state’s request.
A panel of the Fifth District Appellate Court, however, reversed, saying the trial court failed to comply with a section of the Mental Health Code that requires requests for voluntary admission to be addressed before ruling on involuntary commitments.
The case is In re Lance H., No. 114899.
Barbara Goeben and Veronique Baker of the Guardianship and Advocacy Commission in Alton represented Lance H. at the appellate level.
In addition, the court on Wednesday agreed to hear arguments in the following cases:
- Jimmy Crittenden et al., v. Cook County Commission on Human Rights, Cons. Nos. 114876 and 114911. These two First District cases appear to deal with the county’s Human Rights Ordinance and whether it permits punitive damages.
- Sandra Relf v. Natasha Shatayeva, No. 114925, a Second District case that deals whether the circuit court erred in dismissing a personal injury action because the defendant had died before the complaint was filed.
- In re Shelby R., No. 114994. At issue in this Fourth District case is whether the Juvenile Court Act prohibits minors from being incarcerated for the unlawful consumption of alcohol.
- Joseph E. Prazen v. Marvin Shoop Jr., etc., et al., No. 115035, a Fourth District case that deals with the “return-to-work” restrictions in the state Pension Code.
- John L. Earlywine et al., v. Jessica A. Earlywine, a Second District case that deals with an order in a divorce case that required petitioner’s counsel to turn over money to opposing counsel as interim attorney fees.
- Daniel Hooker, etc. et al., v. Retirement Board of the Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago, No. 114811. At issue in this First District case is the calculation of benefits to widows under the Pension Code, as well as whether a class should be certified.
- The Board of Education of Peoria School District No. 150, etc., v. The Peoria Federation of Support Staff, Security/Policemen's Benevolent and Protective Association Unit No. 114 et al., No. 114853. This Fourth District case deals with the constitutionality of Public Act 96-1257, as well as jurisdiction over unfair labor practice claims between the parties.