* From a press release…
Chief Justice Rita B. Garman and the Illinois Supreme Court have scheduled a special evening session of oral argument on Tuesday, March 17, and have invited Gov. Bruce Rauner and the entire Illinois legislature to observe the Court in session.
It is uncertain when an evening session was last held in the Illinois Supreme Court Building, but it is believed to have been more than a century ago.
The Court will hear oral arguments in a case involving an amendment passed by the legislature to the Illinois Juvenile Court Act. A portion of the amendment was ruled unconstitutional by a Circuit Court and the case is on direct appeal to the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Garman explained that the special evening session is an opportunity for members of the General Assembly to observe first-hand the interaction of the functions of the three branches of government and the operation of the checks and balances essential to our system.
“The case involves an amendment that was debated and passed by the legislature, signed by the Governor, applied by the State in an individual case, challenged by a defendant, and declared un- constitutional by the Circuit Court,” said Chief Justice Garman. “It affords a window into how our constitutional system operates and the balance among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.”
The case is People v. Richardson. It involves a defendant who was 17 years old when he allegedly committed the offenses charged. At the time, the Juvenile Court Act applied only to minors under the age of 17, making him ineligible for juvenile court. After the crimes were committed, but before Richardson was to be tried, the legislature amended the Act to raise the age limit for juvenile felony proceedings to 18. The amendment expressly provides that it is to be applied only to offenses committed on or after its effective date. The Circuit Court of DuPage County ruled that it would violate the constitutional guarantee of equal protection if the defendant were not given the benefit of the amendment.
“The State will be represented by an attorney from the Office of the Attorney General, and the defendant will be represented by the Office of the State Appellate Defender,” Chief Justice Garman noted in her letter to the governor, legislative leaders, and members of the Senate and House. “Thus, you will have the opportunity not only to see the Court at work, but also to observe these valuable public employees performing their vital functions on behalf of the people of the State of Illinois.”
I’m not sure how many legislators are gonna show. The Sullivan Caucus and the Black Caucus both have huge events that night. And Gov. Rauner has committed to attending the Sullivan Caucus event.
- MrJM - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:22 pm:
“The State will be represented by an attorney from the Office of the Attorney General, and the defendant will be represented by the Office of the State Appellate Defender. Thus, you will have the opportunity not only to see the Court at work, but also to observe these valuable public employees performing their vital functions on behalf of the people of the State of Illinois.”
Heh.
– MrJM
- Anonymous - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:26 pm:
Is that a St. Patrick’s Day notice? (It’s too soon for April Fool’s Day, right?)
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:30 pm:
Invite them back for the reading of your verdict in the pension case.
Then you can reprimand them in person as well lol.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:31 pm:
===Invite them back for the reading of your verdict in the pension case. ===
Maybe they’ll hand that down before the 17th and they can just reenact it. lol
- very old soil - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:32 pm:
Rich
The first two paragraphs had me convinced that the SC had reached a decision on the pension case and wanted to explain the IL constitution to the governor and the general assembly.
- Cheswick - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:34 pm:
Very impressed.
- Wordslinger - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:35 pm:
FKA, that’s a great idea.
Do it at midnight, bells tolling.
“You. Will. Atone!”
- cdog - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:36 pm:
I think that is great LEADERSHIP coming out of one of the branches of Illinois government! I hope all the invitees attend and promote this grand civics lesson. Forget the elbow-rubbing fundraisers.
Good thing it is getting squeezed in before the court reporters go POOF! and disappear.
- George - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:41 pm:
On St. Patrick’s day? Do judicial robes even come in green?
- Norseman - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:42 pm:
Garman thought bubble: “Maybe, these legislative egotists will get a better understanding of constitutional limitations if they come. Nah, but I’ve got to try and educate them.”
- Democrowhat - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:42 pm:
Maybe I’m cranky, but I don’t get it. I don’t understand a court making a special invitation to other branches of government, asking them to come observe something that is already public. Have they ever ventured to the Capitol to observe the House and Senate pass a bill? Do they know what the Governor and the other executive officers do? It seems a bit elitist.
- AnonymousOne - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:48 pm:
High school students probably understand better how the three branches of government function. Seems as if Cowboy Bruce wants to go it solo and the legislature is the bank robber, mindless of the rules on OTHER peoples’ money. The court has to educate them on how they’re supposed to behave.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:51 pm:
==Maybe they’ll hand that down before the 17th and they can just reenact it==
That’s even better! The pols reenact negotiating, voting and signing the bill, building to the final act of the ISC reenacting knocking it down.
Tape it and send it to civics classes around the state lol
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:52 pm:
@Wordslinger - Love it! ==And thus, the evening’s entertainment concludes. Thank you for joining us== LOL
- 1776 - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:02 pm:
Are they serving green beer?
- The Colossus of Roads - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:04 pm:
They know all to well how the three branches work and use them to their full advantage.
- Give Me A Break - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:06 pm:
Just a word of caution to the GA members who attend. If a justice happens to say, “And Now”, that does not mean they are done and you can leave.
- BigBob - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:07 pm:
Is it possible they have voted on the pension issue and plan to announce their decision with the Gov and Leg sitting in the room for emphasis.
- anon - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:10 pm:
Yes, the best part is “to observe these valuable public employees performing their vital functions.” Guess the Supreme Court is not on board with the public employee demonizing. Read between the lines: these are the people who are getting screwed by your pension legislation.
- A Jack - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:12 pm:
Well now, the GA and Governor have been asking for guidance on the pension issue, and the ILSC just offered some beginner guidance on the Illinois Constitution.
- Not it - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:13 pm:
Um, I think this takes precedence over any evening activities. I wouldn’t want to defend a candidate that skipped this.
- illinifan - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:13 pm:
Rauner was hoping the decision on SB1 would provide guidance on how to draft legislation. I think this opportunity is their way of saying don’t expect this from our written decision on SB1 but take a moment to observe how we do things, and you will get a clue on how the process works, so you can write better laws.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:14 pm:
===this takes precedence over any evening activities===
You’ve obviously never been to the Sullivan Caucus.
lol
- A Jack - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:17 pm:
Between this and the AG challenging his fair share plans, Rauner is really having a Friday the 13th.
- Nucky Thompson - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:21 pm:
“Between this and the AG challenging his fair share plans, Rauner is really having a Friday the 13th”…..it’s only 3:20 p.m. There still a lot of time for that Friday evening press release that’ll blow the door off of everything!
- OneMan - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:22 pm:
Perhaps they can do it under the lights at the place the minor league baseball team used to play…
- facts are stubborn things - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:27 pm:
since you have no respect for the constitution, unless it benefits you, why don’t you come down and see how we operate to protect the people from you.
- late to the party - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:30 pm:
I want to like this idea, but it really just sounds condescending. Perhaps the GA can invite the Court over for a screening of Schoolhouse Rock’s “I’m just a Bill” in return. And a seriously bad choice of nights.
- A guy - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:32 pm:
Clearly there are not enough Irish members of the ISC or a travesty such as this would not O’ccur.
No wonder they only have one evening session per century.
- relocated - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:38 pm:
Seems like the SB1 hearing would be enough of a civic lesson.
- Langhorne - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:03 pm:
4 days notice? St Patrick’s day?
Seriously? Why not the next day?
Dumb
- Langhorne - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:06 pm:
Each caucus should send a delegation of about 8 members, and let that be it.
- Demoralized - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:16 pm:
Maybe they’ll wear green robes.
- walker - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:24 pm:
Internal PR to blunt the impact of the pension smack down.
- John Parnell - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:28 pm:
Have they ever ventured to the Capitol to observe the House and Senate pass a bill? Do they know what the Governor and the other elective officers do? The Chief Justice appears before the Appropriations committee every year.
- Mama - Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:32 pm:
++Is that a St. Patrick’s Day notice? (It’s too soon for April Fool’s Day, right?) ++ Notice: April Fool’s Day has been moved to March.