State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
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[ Introduced ][ Engrossed ][ Senate Amendment 001 ]

90_SJ0068enr

90SJ0068 Enrolled                             SRS90SJ0024BWge
 1                          STATE OF ILLINOIS
 2                     NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
 3                               SENATE
 4                   Senate Joint Resolution No. 68
 5                    Offered by Senator Dan Cronin
 6        WHEREAS, The  90th  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of
 7    Illinois has submitted Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional
 8    Amendment   52,   a   proposition   to   amend  the  Illinois
 9    Constitution, to the voters of Illinois at the November  1998
10    general election; and
11        WHEREAS,   The   Illinois  Constitutional  Amendment  Act
12    requires the General Assembly to prepare a brief  explanation
13    of  the  proposed amendment, a brief argument in favor of the
14    amendment, a brief argument against the  amendment,  and  the
15    form  in  which  the amendment will appear on the ballot, and
16    also requires the information be published and distributed to
17    the electorate; and
18        WHEREAS, Senate  Joint  Resolution  64  created  a  Joint
19    Committee  on  the Courts Commission Amendment to prepare the
20    foregoing information; therefore, be it
21        RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
22    OF THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS,  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES
23    CONCURRING  HEREIN,  that  the  present and proposed forms of
24    Section 15 of Article VI shall be published as follows:
25           "PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO SECTION 15 OF ARTICLE VI
26                           (The Judiciary)
27                             ARTICLE VI
28                            THE JUDICIARY
29                           (Present Form)
30    SECTION 15. RETIREMENT - DISCIPLINE
31        (a)  The General Assembly may  provide  by  law  for  the
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 1    retirement  of  Judges  and  Associate Judges at a prescribed
 2    age. Any retired Judge or Associate Judge, with his  consent,
 3    may  be assigned by the Supreme Court to judicial service for
 4    which he shall receive the applicable compensation in lieu of
 5    retirement  benefits.  A  retired  Associate  Judge  may   be
 6    assigned only as an Associate Judge.
 7        (b)  A  Judicial  Inquiry  Board  is created. The Supreme
 8    Court shall select two Circuit  Judges  as  members  and  the
 9    Governor  shall  appoint four persons who are not lawyers and
10    three lawyers as members of the Board. No more  than  two  of
11    the  lawyers  and  two  of  the  non-lawyers appointed by the
12    Governor shall be members of the same  political  party.  The
13    terms  of Board members shall be four years. A vacancy on the
14    Board shall be filled for a  full  term  in  the  manner  the
15    original  appointment  was  made.  No member may serve on the
16    Board more than eight years.
17        (c)  The  Board  shall  be  convened  permanently,   with
18    authority  to  conduct  investigations,  receive  or initiate
19    complaints concerning a Judge or Associate  Judge,  and  file
20    complaints  with  the  Courts Commission. The Board shall not
21    file  a  complaint  unless  five  members  believe   that   a
22    reasonable  basis exists (1) to charge the Judge or Associate
23    Judge with willful misconduct in office,  persistent  failure
24    to  perform  his duties, or other conduct that is prejudicial
25    to the administration of justice or that brings the  judicial
26    office  into  disrepute,  or  (2) to charge that the Judge or
27    Associate Judge is physically or mentally unable  to  perform
28    his   duties.   All   proceedings   of  the  Board  shall  be
29    confidential except the filing of a complaint with the Courts
30    Commission. The Board shall prosecute the complaint.
31        (d)  The  Board   shall   adopt   rules   governing   its
32    procedures.  It  shall  have  subpoena power and authority to
33    appoint and direct its staff. Members of the  Board  who  are
34    not  Judges shall receive per diem compensation and necessary
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 1    expenses; members who  are  Judges  shall  receive  necessary
 2    expenses  only. The General Assembly by law shall appropriate
 3    funds for the operation of the Board.
 4        (e)  A Courts Commission is  created  consisting  of  one
 5    Supreme  Court Judge selected by that Court, who shall be its
 6    chairman, two Appellate Court Judges selected by that  Court,
 7    and  two  Circuit  Judges  selected by the Supreme Court. The
 8    Commission shall be convened permanently to  hear  complaints
 9    filed  by  the  Judicial  Inquiry Board. The Commission shall
10    have authority after notice and public hearing, (1) to remove
11    from office, suspend without  pay,  censure  or  reprimand  a
12    Judge  or  Associate  Judge for willful misconduct in office,
13    persistent failure to perform his duties,  or  other  conduct
14    that  is prejudicial to the administration of justice or that
15    brings the judicial office into disrepute, or (2) to suspend,
16    with or without pay, or retire a Judge or Associate Judge who
17    is physically or mentally unable to perform his duties.
18        (f)  The concurrence of three members of  the  Commission
19    shall  be  necessary  for  a  decision.  The  decision of the
20    Commission shall be final.
21        (g)  The  Commission  shall  adopt  rules  governing  its
22    procedures and shall  have  power  to  issue  subpoenas.  The
23    General Assembly shall provide by law for the expenses of the
24    Commission.
25                             ARTICLE VI
26                            THE JUDICIARY
27                        (Proposed Amendment)
28        (Proposed   changes   in   the   existing  constitutional
29    provision are indicated by underscoring all new matter and by
30    crossing with a line all matter which is to be deleted.)
31    SECTION 15. RETIREMENT - DISCIPLINE
32        (a)  The General Assembly may  provide  by  law  for  the
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 1    retirement  of  Judges  and  Associate Judges at a prescribed
 2    age. Any retired Judge or Associate Judge, with  his  or  her
 3    consent,  may  be  assigned  by the Supreme Court to judicial
 4    service for which he or  she  shall  receive  the  applicable
 5    compensation  in  lieu  of  retirement  benefits.  A  retired
 6    Associate Judge may be assigned only as an Associate Judge.
 7        (b)  A  Judicial  Inquiry  Board  is created. The Supreme
 8    Court shall select two Circuit  Judges  as  members  and  the
 9    Governor  shall  appoint four persons who are not lawyers and
10    three lawyers as members of the Board. No more  than  two  of
11    the  lawyers  and  two  of  the  non-lawyers appointed by the
12    Governor shall be members of the same  political  party.  The
13    terms  of Board members shall be four years. A vacancy on the
14    Board shall be filled for a  full  term  in  the  manner  the
15    original  appointment  was  made.  No member may serve on the
16    Board more than eight years.
17        (c)  The  Board  shall  be  convened  permanently,   with
18    authority  to  conduct  investigations,  receive  or initiate
19    complaints concerning a Judge or Associate  Judge,  and  file
20    complaints  with  the  Courts Commission. The Board shall not
21    file  a  complaint  unless  five  members  believe   that   a
22    reasonable  basis exists (1) to charge the Judge or Associate
23    Judge with willful misconduct in office,  persistent  failure
24    to  perform  his duties, or other conduct that is prejudicial
25    to the administration of justice or that brings the  judicial
26    office  into  disrepute,  or  (2) to charge that the Judge or
27    Associate Judge is physically or mentally unable  to  perform
28    his   duties.   All   proceedings   of  the  Board  shall  be
29    confidential except the filing of a complaint with the Courts
30    Commission. The Board shall prosecute the complaint.
31        (d)  The  Board   shall   adopt   rules   governing   its
32    procedures.  It  shall  have  subpoena power and authority to
33    appoint and direct its staff. Members of the  Board  who  are
34    not  Judges shall receive per diem compensation and necessary
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 1    expenses; members who  are  Judges  shall  receive  necessary
 2    expenses  only. The General Assembly by law shall appropriate
 3    funds for the operation of the Board.
 4        (e)  An  independent  A  Courts  Commission  is   created
 5    consisting  of one Supreme Court Judge selected by that Court
 6    as a member and  one  as  an  alternate,  who  shall  be  its
 7    chairman,  two  Appellate Court Judges selected by that Court
 8    as members and three as alternates, and  two  Circuit  Judges
 9    selected  by  the  Supreme  Court  as  members  and  three as
10    alternates, and two citizens  selected  by  the  Governor  as
11    members and two as alternates. Members and alternates who are
12    Appellate Court Judges must each be from a different Judicial
13    District.  Members and alternates who are Circuit Judges must
14    each  be  from  a  different  Judicial  District. Members and
15    alternates of the Commission shall  not  be  members  of  the
16    Judicial  Inquiry Board.  The members of the Commission shall
17    select a chairperson to serve a two-year term.
18        The Commission shall  be  convened  permanently  to  hear
19    complaints   filed   by   the  Judicial  Inquiry  Board.  The
20    Commission shall  have  authority  after  notice  and  public
21    hearing,  (1)  to  remove  from  office, suspend without pay,
22    censure or reprimand a Judge or Associate Judge  for  willful
23    misconduct  in  office,  persistent failure to perform his or
24    her duties, or other  conduct  that  is  prejudicial  to  the
25    administration  of justice or that brings the judicial office
26    into disrepute, or (2) to suspend, with or  without  pay,  or
27    retire  a  Judge  or  Associate  Judge  who  is physically or
28    mentally unable to perform his or her duties.
29        (f)  The  concurrence  of  four  three  members  of   the
30    Commission shall be necessary for a decision. The decision of
31    the Commission shall be final.
32        (g)  The  Commission  shall  adopt comprehensive rules to
33    ensure  that  governing   its   procedures   are   fair   and
34    appropriate.   These rules and any amendments shall be public
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 1    and filed with the Secretary of State at least 30 days before
 2    becoming effective.
 3        (h)  A member of the Commission shall disqualify  himself
 4    or  herself,  or  the  other  members of the Commission shall
 5    disqualify a member, with respect to any proceeding in  which
 6    disqualification  or  recusal  would  be  required of a Judge
 7    under  rules  of  the  Supreme  Court,  under  rules  of  the
 8    Commission, or by law.
 9        If a Supreme Court Judge is the subject of a  proceeding,
10    then  there  shall  be  no  Supreme  Court Judge sitting as a
11    member of the Commission with  respect  to  that  proceeding.
12    Instead, an alternate Appellate Court Judge not from the same
13    Judicial  District  as  the subject Supreme Court Judge shall
14    replace the subject Supreme Court Judge. If a member  who  is
15    an Appellate Court Judge is the subject of a proceeding, then
16    an  alternate Appellate Court Judge shall replace the subject
17    Appellate Court Judge. If an Appellate Court Judge who is not
18    a member is the subject of  a  proceeding  and  an  Appellate
19    Court Judge from the same Judicial District is a member, then
20    an alternate Appellate Court Judge shall replace that member.
21    If  a  member  who  is  a  Circuit  Judge is the subject of a
22    proceeding, then an alternate Circuit Judge shall replace the
23    subject Circuit Judge. If a Circuit Judge who is not a member
24    is the subject of a proceeding and a Circuit Judge  from  the
25    same Judicial District is a member, then an alternate Circuit
26    Judge shall replace that member.
27        If  a member of the Commission is disqualified under this
28    Section with respect to any proceeding, that member shall  be
29    replaced  by  an  alternate  on  a rotating basis in a manner
30    provided by rule of the Commission.  The alternate shall  act
31    as  member  of the Commission with respect to that proceeding
32    only.
33        (i)  The  Commission  and  shall  have  power  to   issue
34    subpoenas.
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 1        (j)  Members and alternates of the Commission who are not
 2    Judges  shall  receive  per  diem  compensation and necessary
 3    expenses; members and alternates who are Judges shall receive
 4    necessary expenses only.  The General Assembly shall  provide
 5    by law for the expenses and compensation of the Commission.";
 6    and be it further
 7        RESOLVED,  That  the  brief  explanation  of the proposed
 8    amendment shall read as follows:
 9                 "EXPLANATION OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT
10        The proposed amendment, which takes effect upon  approval
11    by  the voters, amends Section 15 of the Judiciary Article of
12    the  1970  Illinois  Constitution.   This  section   of   the
13    Constitution  includes  provisions  relating  to the Illinois
14    Courts  Commission,  which  hears  complaints  filed  against
15    Judges by the Judicial Inquiry Board.
16        Currently, the Courts Commission consists of five members
17    (1 Supreme Court Justice appointed by the  Supreme  Court,  2
18    Appellate  Court  Justices  appointed by the Appellate Court,
19    and 2 Circuit Court Judges appointed by the Supreme Court).
20        The proposed amendment adds two citizens appointed by the
21    Governor to the Courts Commission.  The  amendment  prohibits
22    the participation of a member of the Courts Commission in any
23    proceeding when that participation is deemed inappropriate by
24    the   rules  of  the  Supreme  Court,  rules  of  the  Courts
25    Commission, or by law.  The proposed amendment provides  that
26    no  Supreme  Court Justice may serve on the Courts Commission
27    in a proceeding concerning another Supreme Court Justice;  no
28    Appellate Court Justice may serve on the Courts Commission in
29    a  proceeding concerning another Appellate Court Justice from
30    the same Judicial District; and no Circuit  Court  Judge  may
31    serve  on  the  Courts  Commission in a proceeding concerning
32    another Circuit Court Judge from the same Judicial  District.
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 1    Alternate  members  are  authorized  to  serve  on the Courts
 2    Commission when any member is ineligible to  serve  during  a
 3    proceeding.   The  proposed amendment also allows the members
 4    of the Courts Commission to appoint a chairperson for a  term
 5    of 2 years."; and be it further
 6        RESOLVED,  That  the  brief  argument  in  favor  of  the
 7    proposed amendment shall read as follows:
 8            "ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
 9    THIS  AMENDMENT  WILL  ENHANCE  THE CREDIBILITY OF THE COURTS
10    COMMISSION PROCEEDINGS.
11        Currently, only sitting Judges constitute the  membership
12    of  the  Courts  Commission.  In  both  public perception and
13    practice the current Courts Commission is a body without  any
14    public participation or involvement at any level.  The public
15    is  not  involved  in  the  appointment of the members of the
16    Courts Commission or in making Courts  Commission  decisions,
17    nor  are  these decisions widely circulated by the media.  By
18    adding  two  private  citizens  to  the  Courts   Commission,
19    representing  the general public, the proposed amendment will
20    allow citizens to become a part of the process.  The citizens
21    will serve as full voting members and  will  bring  a  fresh,
22    common-sense  approach  to  these  important  proceedings and
23    allow  for  a  well-balanced  Courts  Commission  capable  of
24    rendering  fair   and   just   decisions.    Without   public
25    participation in such matters, public faith and confidence in
26    the proceedings suffer.
27    THIS AMENDMENT WILL ENSURE THE IMPARTIALITY OF MEMBERS OF THE
28    COURTS  COMMISSION BY CREATING A METHOD TO AVOID CONFLICTS OF
29    INTEREST.
30        Currently,  all   Judges  in  Illinois  must   disqualify
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 1    themselves from cases in which they have a personal interest,
 2    financial  interest,  or any other conflict of interest.  The
 3    proposed amendment would place  these  same  requirements  on
 4    members  of  the  Courts  Commission.   Members of the Courts
 5    Commission should not be involved in any proceeding where  an
 6    inherent  conflict  of interest may influence their decision.
 7    The Courts Commission must be an  independent  and  impartial
 8    body  capable of making decisions which are based upon facts.
 9    The proposed amendment also provides for alternate members to
10    fill any position left vacant by a member who  is  ineligible
11    to  serve  during  a proceeding. By not allowing members with
12    conflicts  of  interest  to  serve,   this   amendment   adds
13    credibility  to  the  Courts  Commission's  deliberations and
14    proceedings.
15    THIS  AMENDMENT  INSURES  STATE-WIDE  REPRESENTATION  IN  THE
16    COURTS COMMISSION.
17        Current  constitutional  provisions  are  silent  as   to
18    geographical  representation  of the Courts Commission, which
19    could result in all members residing in the same area of  the
20    State.    This   amendment  requires  that  the  members  and
21    alternates  of  the  Courts  Commission  appointed  from  the
22    Appellate Court each be from a different  Judicial  District.
23    It  makes  the  same  requirement  with regard to members and
24    alternates appointed from  the  Circuit  Court.   In  effect,
25    this  proposal  provides  for  state-wide distribution of the
26    members of the Courts Commission.
27    THIS AMENDMENT PROMOTES A MORE DEMOCRATIC APPOINTMENT OF  THE
28    CHAIRPERSON OF THE COURTS COMMISSION.
29        The  Constitution currently provides that the chairperson
30    shall be the Supreme Court  Justice  serving  on  the  Courts
31    Commission.    The   proposed   amendment   permits   greater
32    participation  by all members by permitting them to elect the
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 1    chairperson, who shall serve a two-year term.  This  proposed
 2    change  will  provide  the  Courts  Commission  with  greater
 3    flexibility  in  regulating  its own activities.  The Circuit
 4    Court Judges, Appellate Court  Justices,  and  Supreme  Court
 5    Justices,  as  well as the public members, will have an equal
 6    chance to serve as chairperson, with the opportunity to elect
 7    a new chairperson every two years."; and be it further
 8        RESOLVED, That the brief argument against  the  amendment
 9    shall read as follows:
10              "ARGUMENT AGAINST THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
11    THE ILLINOIS CONSTITUTION HAS A SYSTEM TO DISCIPLINE JUDGES.
12        The   Illinois  Constitution  currently  has  a  judicial
13    disciplinary  system  consisting  of  two  parts.   One,  the
14    Judicial   Inquiry   Board   receives,   initiates,    files,
15    investigates   and   prosecutes   complaints  concerning  all
16    Illinois  Judges.   Two,  the  Courts  Commission  hears  any
17    complaints filed by the Judicial Inquiry Board.  The  current
18    system  provides  for  a  sufficient  means for reviewing the
19    conduct of Illinois Judges.  Compelling reasons for change to
20    this system do not exist.
21    THE AMENDMENT WILL HARM THE COURTS COMMISSION'S INTEGRITY  BY
22    POLITICIZING THE COMMISSION.
23        Although  the  proponents  argue that two citizen members
24    would enhance integrity to the Illinois Courts Commission, it
25    could actually harm its integrity by politicizing the  Courts
26    Commission.    This   Constitutional   Amendment  allows  the
27    Governor to appoint two citizens  to  the  Courts  Commission
28    without the confirmation of the State Senate.  Therefore, the
29    Governor  could  appoint two citizens of his or her own party
30    to the Courts  Commission.  These  members  could  favor  the
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 1    Governor  who  appointed  them.   As  a result, these citizen
 2    members could be influenced to vote in favor  of  Judges  who
 3    are members of the Governor's political party or for whom the
 4    Governor has expressed support.
 5    THIS  AMENDMENT  DOES  NOT  ALLOW  THE  SENATE TO CONFIRM THE
 6    GOVERNOR'S APPOINTMENTS OF PUBLIC MEMBERS.
 7        The inability of the Illinois State Senate to confirm  or
 8    reject  these  appointments  contradicts other constitutional
 9    provisions that require the Illinois State Senate to  approve
10    gubernatorial  appointees.  This would eliminate an important
11    check on the Executive Branch of government, which  helps  to
12    ensure  that  unqualified  individuals  are  not appointed to
13    commissions and boards like the Courts Commission.
14    THIS AMENDMENT MAY RESULT IN UNINFORMED DECISIONS.
15        The amendment provides only for the appointment of public
16    members to serve on the  Courts  Commission.   The  amendment
17    does  not  impose any special qualifications for these public
18    members. Because public members may not  have  the  necessary
19    experience  relating  to the judiciary, there is an increased
20    chance that the Courts Commission decisions might not be made
21    in an informed manner.  Also, decisions by  other  boards  or
22    commissions  consisting  of  public  members  that review the
23    conduct of other professionals in Illinois do not make  final
24    decisions   but   often  merely  make  recommendations  to  a
25    disciplinary board.  If  public  members  are  added  to  the
26    Courts  Commission,  the  same  safeguard should be required.
27    The amendment fails to provide for review of decisions of the
28    Courts Commission by the Supreme Court of Illinois  or  by  a
29    Special  Tribunal  consisting  of Appellate Court Justices in
30    the event that  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Court  is  being
31    reviewed."; and be it further
90SJ0068 Enrolled          -12-               SRS90SJ0024BWge
 1        RESOLVED, That the proposition shall appear on the ballot
 2    in the following form:
 3                       "PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
 4                      SECTION 15 OF ARTICLE VI
 5                           (The Judiciary)
 6                  Explanation of Proposed Amendment
 7        The  proposed amendment, which takes effect upon approval
 8    by the voters, amends Section 15 of the Judiciary Article  of
 9    the   1970   Illinois  Constitution.   This  section  of  the
10    Constitution includes provisions  relating  to  the  Illinois
11    Courts  Commission,  which  hears  complaints  filed  against
12    Judges by the Judicial Inquiry Board.
13        Currently, the Courts Commission consists of five members
14    (1  Supreme  Court  Justice appointed by the Supreme Court, 2
15    Appellate Court Justices appointed by  the  Appellate  Court,
16    and 2 Circuit Court Judges appointed by the Supreme Court).
17        The proposed amendment adds two citizens appointed by the
18    Governor  to  the  Courts Commission. The amendment prohibits
19    the participation of a member of the Courts Commission in any
20    proceeding when that participation is deemed inappropriate by
21    the  rules  of  the  Supreme  Court,  rules  of  the   Courts
22    Commission,  or by law.  The proposed amendment provides that
23    no Supreme Court Justice may serve on the  Courts  Commission
24    in  a proceeding concerning another Supreme Court Justice; no
25    Appellate Court Justice may serve on the Courts Commission in
26    a proceeding concerning another Appellate Court Justice  from
27    the  same  Judicial  District; and no Circuit Court Judge may
28    serve on the Courts Commission  in  a  proceeding  concerning
29    another  Circuit Court Judge from the same Judicial District.
30    Alternate members are  authorized  to  serve  on  the  Courts
31    Commission  when  any  member is ineligible to serve during a
32    proceeding.  The proposed amendment also allows  the  members
33    of  the Courts Commission to appoint a chairperson for a term
90SJ0068 Enrolled          -13-               SRS90SJ0024BWge
 1    of 2 years.
 2    -------------------------------------------------------------
 3    For the proposed amendment to        YES
 4    Section 15 of Article VI -- The    --------------------------
 5    Judiciary -- of the Constitution     NO
 6    -----------------------------------------------------------";
 7    and be it further
 8        RESOLVED,  That  this   resolution   and   Senate   Joint
 9    Resolution  Constitutional  Amendment  52 be submitted to the
10    Attorney General and filed in the Office of the Secretary  of
11    State  so  that  they may comply with the requirements of the
12    Constitution and the laws of the State of Illinois.
13        Adopted by the Senate, May 22, 1998.
14                                          _______________________
15                                          President of the Senate
16    _______________________
17    Secretary of the Senate
18        Concurred in by the House  of  Representatives,  May  22,
19    1998.
20                                        _________________________
21                                            Speaker of House of
22                                              Representatives
23    _________________________
24      Clerk of House of
25       Representatives

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