Court to compile evidentiary law sources

A Special Committee on Illinois Evidence, an initiative of Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald, has been formed to compile evidentiary law from various sources into a single source.

“The function of this project is to codify existing law, which is presently contained in state statutes, Supreme Court rules and the common law,” said Justice Fitzgerald. “Having the rules of evidence in a single location would be of enormous value to the practitioner.”

The 18-member committee is chaired by 2nd District Appellate Justice Donald C. Hudson, former chief judge of the 16th Circuit, with 1st District Appellate Justice Warren D. Wolfson as vice chair.

Michael Graham, author of The Handbook of Illinois Evidence and a professor at the University of Miami School of Law, is adviser to the committee. The chief justice called him “a true evidence scholar.”

Legislators on the committee are Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton of Chicago and House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Plainfield. Assistant Dean Ralph Ruebner of The John Marshall Law School serves as reporter.

Lawyer members include ISBA past president Todd A. Smith, Gino L. DiVito, Eileen Letts, Shannon M. McNulty, Robert Neirynck, Michael Scodro, Brian K. Trentman and Michael J. Warner.

Participating jurists are 3rd District Appellate Justice Robert L. Carter, 6th Circuit Judge Heidi Ladd, and Cook County Judges Nathaniel R. Howse Jr. and Dennis J. Porter.