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* 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.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:15 pm
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“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
Comment by MrJM Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:22 pm
Is that a St. Patrick’s Day notice? (It’s too soon for April Fool’s Day, right?)
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:26 pm
Invite them back for the reading of your verdict in the pension case.
Then you can reprimand them in person as well lol.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:30 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
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:31 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.
Comment by very old soil Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:32 pm
Very impressed.
Comment by Cheswick Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:34 pm
FKA, that’s a great idea.
Do it at midnight, bells tolling.
“You. Will. Atone!”
Comment by Wordslinger Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:35 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.
Comment by cdog Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:36 pm
On St. Patrick’s day? Do judicial robes even come in green?
Comment by George Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:41 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.”
Comment by Norseman 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.
Comment by Democrowhat Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:42 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.
Comment by AnonymousOne Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:48 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
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:51 pm
@Wordslinger - Love it! ==And thus, the evening’s entertainment concludes. Thank you for joining us== LOL
Comment by Formerly Known As... Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 2:52 pm
Are they serving green beer?
Comment by 1776 Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:02 pm
They know all to well how the three branches work and use them to their full advantage.
Comment by The Colossus of Roads Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:04 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.
Comment by Give Me A Break Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:06 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.
Comment by BigBob Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:07 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.
Comment by anon Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:10 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.
Comment by A Jack Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:12 pm
Um, I think this takes precedence over any evening activities. I wouldn’t want to defend a candidate that skipped this.
Comment by Not it 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.
Comment by illinifan Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:13 pm
===this takes precedence over any evening activities===
You’ve obviously never been to the Sullivan Caucus.
lol
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:14 pm
Between this and the AG challenging his fair share plans, Rauner is really having a Friday the 13th.
Comment by 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”…..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!
Comment by Nucky Thompson Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:21 pm
Perhaps they can do it under the lights at the place the minor league baseball team used to play…
Comment by OneMan Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:22 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.
Comment by facts are stubborn things Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:27 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.
Comment by late to the party Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:30 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.
Comment by A guy Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:32 pm
Seems like the SB1 hearing would be enough of a civic lesson.
Comment by relocated Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 3:38 pm
4 days notice? St Patrick’s day?
Seriously? Why not the next day?
Dumb
Comment by Langhorne Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:03 pm
Each caucus should send a delegation of about 8 members, and let that be it.
Comment by Langhorne Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:06 pm
Maybe they’ll wear green robes.
Comment by Demoralized Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:16 pm
Internal PR to blunt the impact of the pension smack down.
Comment by walker Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:24 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.
Comment by John Parnell Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:28 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.
Comment by Mama Friday, Mar 13, 15 @ 4:32 pm