Publications

Illinois Bar Journal
Articles on Constitutional Law

Amended insanity defense does not violate the equal protection clause of the Illinois Constitution February 2005 Illinois Law Update, Page 68 On November 19, 2004, the Illinois Appellate Court, Second District, affirmed the decision of the Circuit Court of Du Page County, denying the defendant's motion for a new trial and sentencing him to jail for 45 years.
Recent Miranda Rulings Complicate an Already Complex Standard By Kerry J. Bryson February 2005 Article, Page 76 Last year, the US. and Illinois Supreme Courts issued Miranda opinions – and the issue remains as confusing as ever.
Denial of "fitness to stand trial" hearing in a parental rights proceeding did not violate father's due process rights November 2004 Illinois Law Update, Page 568 On August 20, 2004, the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, affirmed the Circuit Court of Cook County's decision finding the respondent father unfit to parent a child and terminating his parental rights.
Breach of fiduciary duty is an equitable action for which no constitutional right to a jury trial exists October 2004 Illinois Law Update, Page 514 On July 8, 2004, the Illinois Appellate Court, Second District, affirmed the decision of the Circuit Court of DuPage County to strike a defendant-beneficiary's demand for a jury trial.
Illinois' "zero tolerance law" does not deny equal protection or due process July 2004 Illinois Law Update, Page 340 On April 15, 2004, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the "zero tolerance law," finding that it does not deny equal protection or due process. 
A reasonable contract provision that acts as a restraint on trade will not be held void as against public policy May 2004 Illinois Law Update, Page 242 On February 20, 2004, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the trial and appellate courts' holding that a restriction in a contract between a company in the business of leasing truck drivers and its customer was not invalid as against public policy.
Supreme court upholds constitutionality of unsafe-building demolition law By Helen W. Gunnarsson May 2004 Lawpulse, Page 236 The supreme court held recently that municipalities can tear down unsafe buildings as soon as the circuit court enters a demolition order.
Due Process in Zoning Hearings: Guidelines for Complying with the Supreme Court's Mandate By Ronald S. Cope February 2004 Article, Page 88 The supreme court recently required broader due-process rights for objectors to zoning decisions. Here's how municipalities can comply.
Consumer Fraud Act protections for car dealers deemed "special legislation" By Helen W. Gunnarsson December 2003 Lawpulse, Page 594 A recent Illinois Supreme Court case hands car buyers a victory.
Offense elements must be identical for a proportionate penalties clause challenge to succeed December 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 600 On September 18, 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the portion of the appellate court's decision that vacated the defendant's extended-term sentence. 
The periodic presence of a probationer does not constitute grounds for indiscriminate searches December 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 600 On September 18, 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the circuit and appellate courts' judgments to suppress evidence found during a search of the defendant's motel room in which a probationer subject to a search condition was staying.
"Stop and Frisk" in Illinois: Recent Supreme Court Terry-Doctrine Decisions By Michelle M. Jochner December 2003 Article, Page 616 A look at recent decisions that define when warantless stops are permissible under the Fourth Amendment.
Counseling gay couples By Helen W. Gunnarsson November 2003 Lawpulse, Page 544 While the issues that arise in gay relationships are familiar, the legal framework is different. It's a difference that family practitioners and estate planners should learn to navigate.
Involuntary Administration of Psychotropic Drugs: Balancing Safety and Civil Liberties By Anthony E. Rothert October 2003 Article, Page 496 A look at recent cases and trends in this dynamic area of law.
The State may not discriminately select when to grant use immunity when doing so would prevent the defendant from fully and meaningfully presenting his defense October 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 492 On July 11, 2003, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District, vacated the order of the Circuit Court of LaSalle County denying the defendant's motion to suppress evidence.
Trial court's denial of wife's request for a child's representative to testify does not violate procedural due process. October 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 492 On July 9, 2003, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Second District, affirmed the order of the Circuit Court of Du Page County granting the former husband's request for a change of custody and denying his request for termination of unallocated support.
Evidence obtained in traffic stop that was based upon an anonymous tipper who overheard cellular phone conversation on police scanner not obtained illegally and should not have been suppressed September 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 436 On June 19, 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court held that the evidence obtained in a traffic stop that was based upon an anonymous tipper who overheard a cellular phone conversation on a police scanner was not obtained in violation of the Illinois eavesdropping statute, federal wiretapping statutes, or constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Provisions under P. A. 91-0404, imposing mandatory 15- and 20-year sentence enhancements for possession or personal discharge of a firearm in the commission of certain offenses, held unconstitutional September 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 436 On June 19, 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court held that the provisions under P. A. 91-0404, §5, effective January 1, 2000.
When conducting a routine traffic stop, a police officer's questioning may not change the fundamental nature of the stop without any reasonable, articulable suspicion that the individual had committed a crime September 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 436 On June 26, 2003, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fifth District, reversed both the order of the Circuit Court of Richland County denying the defendant's motion to suppress evidence and the defendant's conviction of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
High school student deprived of due process rights when school did not provide him with notice of the identity of his accuser or charges against him; students entitled to rely upon school's rules and procedures to define their property interest in education August 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 384 On May 23, 2003, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District, reversed the order of the circuit court of Will County.
Section 11-20.1(f) of Illinois child pornography statute, including virtual children within the definition of "child," unconstitutionally overbroad; sexually explicit computer depictions of actual children still validly prohibited under statute August 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 384 On May 22, 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court held that section 11-20.1(f) of the Illinois child pornography statute, 720 ILCS 5/11.20.1(f) (2001).
Does People v Morgan Invite Wrongful Convictions? By Larry R. Wells June 2003 Article, Page 307 The author argues that the Morgan one-good-count rule turns any general guilty verdict into a potential due-process violation.
Minor's constitutional rights not violated by section 5-125 of Juvenile Court Act, exempting ordinance-violation prosecutions from detention procedures set forth in Act May 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 226 On February 7, 2003, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fourth District, affirmed the order of the Circuit Court of Champaign County finding the defendant guilty of violating the conditions of his supervision and sentencing him to detention and conditional discharge.
Double jeopardy does not bar second county from prosecuting defendant for different offense relating to same conduct underlying prior conviction April 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 168 On January 15, 2003, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fourth District, affirmed the order of the circuit court of Champaign County denying the defendant's motion to dismiss four of five counts of an indictment on grounds of double jeopardy.
The Illinois Supreme Court's 2002 Civil Cases: A New Court Settles In By Nancy J. Arnold, Tim Eaton, and Michael T. Reagan April 2003 Article, Page 172 Our annual review of the leading cases.
Section 9-3(b) of Criminal Code of 1961 is unconstitutional because it creates mandatory presumption of recklessness April 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 168 On January 24, 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the appellate court, and held that section 9-3(b) of the Criminal Code of 1961, 720 ILCS 5/9-3(b).
Constitutional Challenges to Municipal Administrative Adjudicatory Systems By Angela R. Hall March 2003 Article, Page 139 Do they succeed? It's possible but not likely, this author writes.
Fine schedule under village ordinance for parking and vehicle regulations, assessing late fees prior to hearing on merits of violation, a violation of due process March 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 116 On December 13, 2002, the Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, reversed the order of the Circuit Court of Cook County and held that a village of Midlothian ordinance violated the due process clauses of the United States and Illinois Constitutions.
Section 6-16(c) of Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934, which subjects individual to criminal liability for allowing persons under 21 to leave his or her residence after consuming alcohol, is unconstitutionally vague on its face March 2003 Illinois Law Update, Page 116 On December 5, 2002, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the circuit court and held that section 6-16(c) of the Liquor Control Act of 1934, 235 ILCS 5/6-16(c), was unconstitutionally vague on its face.
The case of the inflexible filing deadline By Helen W. Gunnarsson February 2003 Lawpulse, Page 58 The supreme court agrees to hear an administrative-law case which raises the question whether the strict, "jurisdictional" interpretation of a filing deadline is a denial of due process.
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