Illinois High Court Declines To Hear Term Limits Appeal
From the Chicago Tribune
The Illinois Supreme Court Thursday refused to hear a direct appeal of a lower court ruling that found a plan to impose legislative term limits through a proposed change in the state constitution was unconstitutional.
The proposal to ask voters on the Nov. 4 general election ballot whether to limit lawmakers to eight years of service is backed by the Committee for Legislative Reform and Term Limits, a group formed by Republican governor candidate Bruce Rauner.
The state Supreme Court ruling means the group must go through the normal appellate court process, which could take some time.
The committee said it will file a motion for a speedy ruling by the appellate court in order have a chance to make August deadlines for ballot certification.
“We fully expect that whoever loses at the appellate level will then appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court, at which time they will make a final determination,” Mark Campbell, the group’s executive director, said in a statement.
Late last month, Cook County Circuit Judge Mary Mikva ruled the term limit proposal went beyond the limited window that constitutional drafters allowed for petition driven amendments to the state constitution.
Mikva ruled that “any term limits initiative appears to be outside what is permissible” under the state constitution and previous court rulings.
Under the state constitution, citizen-driven amendments are limited to those affecting both the structure and procedure of the General Assembly.
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Tribune
The Illinois Supreme Court Thursday refused to hear a direct appeal of a lower court ruling that found a plan to impose legislative term limits through a proposed change in the state constitution was unconstitutional.
The proposal to ask voters on the Nov. 4 general election ballot whether to limit lawmakers to eight years of service is backed by the Committee for Legislative Reform and Term Limits, a group formed by Republican governor candidate Bruce Rauner.
The state Supreme Court ruling means the group must go through the normal appellate court process, which could take some time.
The committee said it will file a motion for a speedy ruling by the appellate court in order have a chance to make August deadlines for ballot certification.
“We fully expect that whoever loses at the appellate level will then appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court, at which time they will make a final determination,” Mark Campbell, the group’s executive director, said in a statement.
Late last month, Cook County Circuit Judge Mary Mikva ruled the term limit proposal went beyond the limited window that constitutional drafters allowed for petition driven amendments to the state constitution.
Mikva ruled that “any term limits initiative appears to be outside what is permissible” under the state constitution and previous court rulings.
Under the state constitution, citizen-driven amendments are limited to those affecting both the structure and procedure of the General Assembly.
Read more in our daily News Update...