Last week, we looked at the question of how often the Illinois Supreme Court considers unanimous civil decisions from the Appellate Court. Now we turn to a related question: how often does the Court review unpublished decisions?According to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 23, the Appellate Courts are to issue formal opinions under only two circumstances:
Does a Dissent at the Appellate Court Help (Part II)?
This week, we’re attempting to answer the question: does a dissent at the Appellate Court help in getting Supreme Court review? And if so – how much?
Yesterday, we considered the prevalence of dissent in Appellate Court opinions. Now we turn to the data.
As it turns out, this is one bit of conventional wisdom
Getting a PLA Granted: Does a Dissent Below Help? (And if So, How Much?)
In our last several posts, we’ve been following the Supreme Court’s evolving interests over the past fifteen years, charting the areas of law considered by the Court in its civil docket.
Now we turn to a somewhat different question. It has long been part of the conventional wisdom in the appellate bar that a dissent
What Areas Does the Illinois Supreme Court Address Most Often, Part III (2010-2014)
In our last post, we continued our examination of the legal issues appearing on the Illinois Supreme Court’s civil docket, examining the period 2005-2009.
Turning to the final five years of our study period, we see tort cases slightly down in absolute terms. Government/administrative and constitutional law cases are down on the Court’s civil docket,
What Areas Does the Illinois Supreme Court Address Most Often, Part II (2005-2009)
In our last post, we began our consideration of the areas of law covered by the Illinois Supreme Court’s civil docket between 2000 and 2004. We found that torts, civil procedure and government/administrative cases led the Court’s docket, although the Court also showed a significant interest in constitutional and workers’ compensation law. We now turn
What Areas of Civil Law Does the Illinois Supreme Court Address Most Often, Part I (2000-2004)
In our last three posts, we’ve been addressing where in the state the Illinois Supreme Court’s civil docket comes from. Now, we turn to another issue we addressed briefly several posts earlier – what areas of the law does the Court’s case load come from.
One of the advantages of studying so extensive a period
What Counties are Producing the Illinois Supreme Court’s Civil Docket, Part III (2010-2014)
In the last two posts, we’ve been investigating where in the state the Illinois Supreme Court tends to draw its civil docket from. Now, we turn to the last five years of our study period.
During the most recent years – comprising the entirety of the Kilbride Court and the beginning of the Garman Court
What Counties Are Producing the Illinois Supreme Court’s Civil Docket (Part II)
In our last post, we began our discussion of where in the state the Illinois Supreme Court’s civil docket has come from over the past fifteen years, beginning with population figures for 2000 and 2010, and including also the data from 2000-2004.
For the second five years of the study period, the Court’s civil caseload
What Counties are Producing the Illinois Supreme Court’s Civil Docket (Part I)
In our last several posts, we considered how frequently the Illinois Supreme Court agrees to review summary judgments.
Next we consider the geographical sources of the Court’s civil docket. The most obvious driver of caseload should be population – more residents equals more litigation, and therefore more candidates for possible Supreme Court review. Therefore, as
Do Summary Judgments Present Cleaner Issues for Review?
Last time we began investigating whether the Illinois Supreme Court often accepts summary judgments for review on its civil docket, since (at least in theory), such cases present cleaner, purely legal issues for review.
Now we turn to a slightly different issue. Since summary judgments should present clear legal issues with little room for factual