The Illinois Court Observer


"Aims to highlight recent decisions of the courts of Illinois, as well as other interesting legal topics."

Author: Saleem B. Mamdani practices at Friye & Mamdani in Quincy, Ill.

Blawg Related Categories: Appellate Practice • States • Illinois • Solo / Small Firm

Recent Posts from The Illinois Court Observer


  • Update and Farewell

    Thanks to everyone who has viewed the ICO and helped me getting started with blogging.  I will no longer be writing this blog as I am happy to announce that I have taken a position…

  • The Blagojevich Riposte

    The Chicago Tribune is reporting that an attorney for Gov. Blagojevich sent a letter (pdf) to Atty Gen. Madigan and filed a motion (pdf) before the Illinois House committee considering impeachment to appoint his attorneys, Edward Genson,…

  • Supreme Court Refuses to Hear the Madigan Motion!

    The Illinois Supreme Court has refused to hear Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s motion, according to news reports.  Apparently, the motion was denied without comment.  I’m curious to hear what filters out about the grounds…

  • Statutory Construction and Freakonomics

    I’ve recently read several cases where principles of statutory construction have been invoked in reaching a result.  For the lay people who may be reading this, statutory construction is the name given to the procedure…

  • People v. De Filippo, 02-07-0470

    This case involves a sheriff’s deputy’s allegedly fraudulent application for additional service time credits in the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Program pension.  The Defendant’s conviction for 2 counts of forgery was reversed, based upon a failure…

  • Vena v. Vena, 02-07-0876

    This action involves the legality of a trust mechanism which would allow a majority of beneficiaries under a trust to approve the trustee’s accounts and thereby preclude judicial review of the trustee’s actions.  The 2nd…

  • The Madigan Motion

    This morning, a conversation with two local judges raised the question of whether Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s threatened motion to remove Gov. Blagojevich on unfitness grounds doesn’t raise separation of powers issues, or at…

  • Gov. Blajojevich Busted!

    It’s impossible to be tuned in to the media today and not see this story, so let’s take a look at this.  There’s a legal angle (the complaint itself), a political angle, and a more general…

  • This Week in Illinois Blawgs: 12/1/08-12/7/08

    As you might guess, this section will highlights topics covered in other Illinois Blawgs during the past week.  You may also find reference to other legal blogs here.  If there is a blog out there you…

  • Welcome

    Welcome to the Illinois Court Observer, a blog devoted to telling you who said what in Illinois and why it matters to you.  If you are a legal practitioner, I hope that this blog will…