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*** UPDATED x1 *** This just in… Appellate court denies stay motion

Friday, Sep 27, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 4:46 pm - I’m told by an attorney involved in the fracas that the appellate court has denied Gov. Pat Quinn’s motion for an emergency stay of Judge Cohen’s rulings on Quinn’s legislative salary veto.

More when I know more.

*** UPDATE *** The one-sentence appellate court order denying Quinn’s motion for a stay can be read by clicking here. Not much to see, but it could be suitable for framing if you’re a state legislator.

…Adding… And there go the checks…

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This just in… Quinn to appeal stay denial

Friday, Sep 27, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 12:01 pm - I’ve confirmed that Gov. Pat Quinn is planning a quick visit to the appellate courts to try to overturn Judge Cohen’s ruling from this morning that denied Quinn a stay on Cohen’s Thursday legislative pay ruling. Quinn wanted the stay during his appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Fasten your seatbelts, campers.

*** UPDATE *** * 12:20 pm - Tribune…

“The governor violated the constitution. He had no right to do that despite his benevolent intent,” Cohen said.

Cohen commended Topinka for following his order to “immediately” issue checks.

Testimony showed Topinka will issue checks for October by 3 p.m. today. Quinn attorneys are appealing Cohen’s denial of a stay immediately to the state appellate court.

Quinn’s attorneys argued that “no one in this courtroom” believed Cohen’s decision that the governor violated the constitution “would be the final word in this case.”

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This just in… Judge denies Quinn request for stay pending appeal

Friday, Sep 27, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* 11:01 am - From the Twitters…

Judge heavily citing other cases, not the balance of powers, in denying @GovernorQuinn attempt to keep blocking lawmaker paychecks

— Tony Arnold (@tonyjarnold) September 27, 2013

Judge calls it "cynical" for @GovernorQuinn to ask lawmakers who have been harmed to stay in that position #paychecks

— Tony Arnold (@tonyjarnold) September 27, 2013

Motion officially denied. Lawmakers can get paid again

— Tony Arnold (@tonyjarnold) September 27, 2013

Judge Cohen says @GovernorQuinn can't induce harm, then rely on that harm as status quo. Emergency motion is denied. #twill

— Marc Karlinsky (@MarcKarlinsky) September 27, 2013

*** UPDATE *** Sun-Times…

-Republican Treasurer Dan Rutherford, a 2014 candidate for governor, joined the bi-partisan chorus of officeholders Friday calling on Gov. Pat Quinn to drop his appeal of a court decision that blocked the governor’s pension-driven bid to withhold legislative salaries.

“I think the judiciary has spoken. He should just let it be at rest,” Rutherford said in an interview in the Chicago Sun-Times Statehouse office. […]

“It really added a great deal of acidity in the waters between two co-equal branches of government, the executive and legislative. I just don’t see how this is going to enhance the ability to try to work together to help fix what Illinois needs to have fixed,” Rutherford said.

“The second thing is it also is a horrible precedent to set. At what point does a future governor say that he or she wants you to do something, and if you don’t general assembly, I’ll veto your salaries?” the treasurer said. “I just think it was a bad move.”

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*** UPDATED WITH LIVE COVERAGE *** In other courtroom news…

Friday, Sep 27, 2013 - Posted by Rich Miller

* WGN…

A Cook County judge is expected to make a ruling today, on whether a same sex marriage ban in Illinois is constitutional.

A lawsuit seeking to legalize same sex marriage got opposition from five downstate county clerks.

Twenty-five gay couples initiated the case because they want the legal right to marry. Cook County’s top prosecutor and the Illinois Attorney General say the ban violates the state constitution.

The hearing begins at 11 o’clock.

Looks like a busy Friday.

* Meanwhile, the Catholic Conference of Illinois is gearing up. From a press release…

The Catholic Conference of Illinois is promoting a “Defend Marriage Lobby Day” scheduled for Wed., Oct. 23 at the Capitol in Springfield.

Efforts to change the state’s legal definition of marriage from “between a man and a woman” to “between two persons” dominated the legislative session last year.

Senate Bill 10 passed the Senate in February, but was not called for a vote in the House by the May 31 deadline because it lacked the votes needed for passage.

The legislature will meet for its fall session on Oct. 22-24, and Nov. 5-7. There is always the possibility that SB 10 could be called for a vote in the House.

That’s why the Catholic Conference of Illinois is promoting a “Defend Marriage Lobby Day” on Wed., Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Capitol in Springfield. Download a flier about the day here. […]

The “Defend Marriage Lobby Day” is sponsored by the Illinois Family Institute.

*** UPDATE *** Tony Arnold and I presume others will be covering the 11 o’clock hearing. Here’s a ScribbleLive feed…