The Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee is asking for public input on six proposed updates to Supreme Court Rules in areas including peremptory strikes, fee arrangements, and e-Filing.
A live public hearing will be held on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. To testify at the hearing, email RulesCommittee@illinoiscourts.gov no later than Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
Written comments are also invited and should be submitted no later than Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
Please email written comments to RulesCommittee@illinoiscourts.gov or mail to: Committee Secretary, Supreme Court Rules Committee, 222 N. LaSalle Street, 13th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60601.
The public will be able to view the hearing online. A link will be provided on the Rules Committee Public Hearing page of the Supreme Court’s website.
The Rules on which the Committee is seeking comment are described by the Illinois Supreme Court (see press release):
Proposal 21-04: Would amend Supreme Court Rule 23 to give the Appellate Court authority to issue partial summary orders on sentencing issues in criminal and juvenile appeals while retaining jurisdiction to address the merits at a later date. The proposal also amends Rule 361(b) to provide seven days (currently five) to respond to motions filed in the Appellate or Supreme Court.
Proposal 21-06: Would amend Supreme Court Rule 207 to require that a deponent be allowed to examine/review a transcribed deposition at no charge and that the transcript be made available to a deponent in person or provided by mail or email at (i) the location where the deponent was located when the deposition was taken, (ii) the deponent’s residence or business address, (iii) a location acceptable to the deponent in the county where the deposition was taken, or (iv) electronically, if the deponent is able to receive it in that manner. The proposal further provides that the cost of providing the transcribed deposition should be the responsibility of the party seeking the deposition, and not the deponent.
Proposal 22-01: Would amend Supreme Court Rule 706 to increase the fees for applications for admission on motion under Rule 705, applications for admission by transferred uniform bar examination score under Rule 704A, and applications for limited admission as house counsel. All three fees would be increased from $1,250 to $1,500.
Proposal 22-02: Would amend Supreme Court Rule 9 to implement an automated “pending correction” process within the statewide e-Filing system for any e-filed documents not accepted by the clerk. The proposal further provides that if the filer corrects the errors identified by the clerk and re-submits within 48 hours, the filing would be accepted and the acceptance date would relate back to the date of the original submission.
Proposal 22-03: Would amend Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5 (Fees) to add a Comment clarifying that Rule 1.5 allows fee agreements that are not on an hourly rate, for example, fixed fee arrangements, so long as the fee charged or collected is reasonable for the services performed. The proposed Comment would also urge lawyers to consider alternative arrangements to deliver affordable representation in a transparent and predictable manner, with the goal of reducing misunderstandings and avoiding fee disputes.
Proposal 22-08: Would amend Supreme Court Rule 434 (Jury Selection) to (i) reallocate the burden of justifying a peremptory strike to the striking party instead of the objecting party as the burden now rests; and (ii) account for unconscious bias instead of requiring proof of intentional discrimination.
The Supreme Court must approve all proposals before they could take effect.
For more information, contact Chris Bonjean, Communications Director to the Illinois Supreme Court, at cbonjean@illinoiscourts.gov.
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I will be submitting written comments in opposition to the proposed rule change regarding Rule207 prior to the 10/5/22 public hearing.