Subject Index Constitutional Law

Is the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act Unconstitutional?

By Roger L. Price
June
2005
Article
, Page 298
The author reviews recent decisions on the constitutional validity of the Act and recommends legislative action.

Section 1(D)(q) of the Adoption Act violates equal protection

June
2005
Illinois Law Update
, Page 280
On March 24, 2005, the Illinois Supreme Court held that section 1(D)(q) of the Adoption Act, 750 ILCS 50/1(D)(q), is unconstitutional because it violates equal protection.

Child’s Representative Statute Held Unconstitutional

By H. Joseph Gitlin
April
2005
Column
, Page 212
The implications of In re Marriage of Bates.

You take the sofa, I’ll take the Fifth…

By Helen W. Gunnarsson
April
2005
LawPulse
, Page 162
Forget about dirty laundry; what if your divorcing client did – or might have done – something criminal? Here's advice about advising clients how and when to take the Fifth.

All constitutional requirements must be met in order for property to qualify for a charitable-use property tax exemption

March
2005
Illinois Law Update
, Page 116
On December 2, 2004, the Illinois Supreme Court reversed the orders of the appellate and circuit courts, which reversed the Illinois Department of Revenue's (Department) holding that the property in question was not tax exempt. 

Correspondence from Our Readers

March
2005
Column
, Page 106
Search and Seizure and the Illinois Constitution 

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.

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.

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