Illinois Judicial Events - Riding the Circuit Oral Arguments in Urbana | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts
Supreme Court ride circuit oral arguments at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana, Illinois during its March 2018 term. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two cases.
March 15, 2016
Case No. 122202 - People State of Illinois, appellant v. John W. Plank, appellee
Appeal from: Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, Douglas County, Illinois, No. 16 CF 101
People v. John W. Plank is a direct appeal from a trial court order finding an Illinois statute unconstitutional. The defendant was charged with driving a motor vehicle while his license was revoked. At the time, the defendant was riding a bicycle powered by a gasoline motor. Under Illinois law, "low-speed gas bicycles" are not considered to be a "motor vehicle."
The trial court ruled that this statute is unconstitutionally vague and the State is appealing the trial court's ruling. In cases such as this where the trial court finds that a statute is unconstitutional, the appeal goes directly to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Oral Argument Video
Case No. 122349, 122411 cons. - Institute for Justice et al., appellant v. The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, appellee
Appeal from: Circuit Court of Court of Cook County, Illinois, No. 14 CH 19381
Appeal from: Appellate Court Court, First Judicial District, Case Nos 1-16-2141, 1-16-2294 (consol.)
Institute for Justice et al. v. The Department of Financial and Professional Regulation are consolidated cases involving the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). In both cases, the plaintiff filed a FOIA request seeking copies of complaints filed with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation against licensed professionals, cosmetologists and hair braiders in one case and a structural engineer in the other case. In both cases, the Department denied the FOIA request. The plaintiffs filed complaints in the trial court, seeking to compel the Department to release the complaints.
While the lawsuits were pending, the Illinois General Assembly amended the Barber, Cosmetology, Esthetics, Hair Braiding, and Nail Technology Act and the Civil Administrative Code to provide that complaints against licensees on file with the Department are "for the confidential use of the Department and shall not be disclosed."
The issue in this case is whether the amended versions of the Act and the Code apply to requests made before their enactment but which were not fulfilled. The appellate court ruled that the amended version of the statutes applies to such requests. Plaintiffs are appealing that decision to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Oral Argument Video