The public has a strong right of access to court documents in Illinois. When can that right give way to a litigant's desire to keep things under wraps? Should lawyers have a professional responsibility to protect the public from harm caused by keeping client records private?
The Department of State Police updated procedures for court-ordered expungements or the sealing of records received by the Department of State Police's Bureau of Identification by amending the Expungement Procedures (20 IAC 1205; 41 Ill. Reg. 9916 (eff. Nov. 2, 2017)).
Until now, only nine felonies qualified for sealing of records. With passage of HB 2373, nearly all felony convictions qualify. Here's what the expansion could mean for your client.
Recent amendments adopted by the Illinois Community College Board implemented changes to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") regarding records, specific procedures, and provisions for appealing a denied request.
The Workers' Compensation Commission revised their regulations regarding the procedures by which interested persons may inspect or request copies of the Commission's public records to match corresponding changes in the FOIA legislation.
The Mental Health and Developmental Confidentiality Act was amended by changing what constitutes a record and when records are protected from disclosure.
