(710 ILCS 30/15-5)
Sec. 15-5.
Competence of arbitral tribunal to rule on its
jurisdiction.
(a) The arbitral tribunal may rule on its own jurisdiction,
including any objections with respect to the existence or validity
of the arbitration agreement. For that purpose, an arbitration
clause that forms part of a contract shall be treated as an
agreement independent of the other terms of the contract. A
decision by the arbitral tribunal that the contract is null and
void shall not by itself mean that the contract's arbitration
clause is invalid.
(b) A plea that the arbitral tribunal does not have
jurisdiction shall be raised not later than the submission of the
statement of defense. A party is not precluded from raising the
plea by the fact that he or she has appointed or participated in the
appointment of an arbitrator. A plea that the arbitral tribunal
is exceeding the scope of its authority shall be raised as soon as
the matter alleged to be beyond the scope of its authority is
raised during the arbitral proceedings. The arbitral tribunal may,
in either case, admit a later plea if it considers the delay
justified.
(c) The arbitral tribunal may rule on a plea referred to in
subsection (b) of this Section either as a preliminary
question or in an award on the merits. If the arbitral tribunal
rules as a preliminary question that it has jurisdiction, any party
may request, within 30 days after having received notice
of that ruling, the court specified in Section 1-30 of this Act to decide the
matter, which decision is not subject to appeal; provided that this provision
shall not preclude the parties from raising any ground for setting aside or
refusing to recognize or enforce an arbitral award to the extent otherwise
permitted under applicable federal law. While
the
request is pending, the arbitral tribunal may continue the arbitral
proceedings and make an award.
(Source: P.A. 90-631, eff. 7-24-98.)
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