On January 25, 2002, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the appellate court and held that the separation of powers doctrine is not violated when, in a case concerning the fitness of a parent, the county is required to pay for an indigent mother's appellate counsel fees.

The state moved to terminate a defendant's parental rights and to appoint a legal guardian with the power to consent to the adoption of two of the defendant's children.

In August, Gov. Ryan signed into law Senate Bill 1305, which amends the Adoption Act to clarify that a parent's failure to vaccinate a child due to religious or medical reasons, allowed by law, does not constitute child neglect or abuse.

On June 21, 2001, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's holding that the trial court had the authority under the Juvenile Court Act to order the state's attorney to prosecute a petition to terminate parental rights, after establishing permanency goal.

On July 6, 2001, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Third District, reversed the lower court's order awarding grandparent visitation to Brent and Rita Langman, the paternal grandparents of children whose father had died while married to their mother, Amy Langman.

On April 13, 2001, the Appellate Court of Illinois, Fourth District, applied the void-for-vagueness doctrine to a constitutional analysis of section 1(D)(h) of the Adoption Act, 750 ILCS 50/1 (D)(h).

On November 22, 2000, the Fourth District of the Appellate Court of Illinois vacated and remanded the trial court's judgment that granted the state's petition to terminate respondent Christopher Fleming's parental rights.

On October 26, 2000, the Supreme Court of Illinois ruled on the following question of law certified to it by the circuit court:

Beginning next year, more unfit parents may begin losing custody of their children.

On March 23, 2000, the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the appellate court's finding that D.L.'s mother was unfit pursuant to section 2-29 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 (705 ILCS 405/2-29).