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The conviction against actor Jussie Smollett for falsely reporting a hate crime to Chicago police in 2019 has been overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court over prosecutorial issues. The judges noted that the case generated "significant public interest" and many felt the case's original resolution was unjust. But the Chicago Police Department later said that Smollett recruited the brothers to help him stage the attack. Smollett was arrested in February 2019 and indicted that March on 16 felony counts over allegedly filing a false police report. Both brothers said during the trial that Smollett hired them to stage an attack as a ploy for public attention, noting a $3,500 check Smollett paid them.

Persons: Jussie Smollett, Dan Webb, Smollett, ”, —, ” Webb, Ola, Abimbola Osundairo —, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Kimberly Foxx, Emanuel, Abimbola Osundairo Organizations: Chicago police, Illinois Supreme, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Mayor Locations: Cook, Illinois, Chicago’s Streeterville

☆ Jussie Smollett’s conviction in 2019 attack on himself is overturned
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. AP —The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction on charges that he staged a racist and homophobic attack against himself in downtown Chicago in 2019 and lied to police. Emailed messages seeking comment were sent Thursday to Foxx’s office and to Smollett’s attorney, who have argued that Smollett has been victimized by a racist and politicized justice system. Testimony at his trial indicated Smollett paid $3,500 to two men whom he knew from “Empire” to carry out the attack. A state appellate court ruling upheld Smollett’s conviction, declaring that no one promised Smollett he wouldn’t face a fresh prosecution after accepting the original deal. Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis and Justice Joy Cunningham took no part in Thursday’s decision.

Persons: Jussie, Smollett’s, Smollett, Elizabeth Rochford, ”, Kim Foxx’s, Prosecutors, Donald Trump’s, Mary Jane Theis, Joy Cunningham Organizations: Ill, AP, Smollett, Chicago, . Illinois Supreme Locations: SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Chicago, Cook, “ MAGA

☆ Jussie Smollett’s Conviction for False Hate Crime Claim Is Overturned
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Julia Jacobs | More About Julia Jacobs | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned Jussie Smollett’s conviction on charges of filing a false police report claiming that he had been the victim of a racist and homophobic attack in 2019, finding that he was unjustly prosecuted a second time after his charges had been resolved as part of a negotiated agreement. When Mr. Smollett first reported the attack, he claimed that two men had mildly injured him while yelling racist and homophobic slurs, with one of them yelling, “This is MAGA country.” The apparently bigoted attack against a Black and gay actor sparked outrage. But law-enforcement officials later determined that Mr. Smollett had orchestrated the attack himself, and charged him with a crime. The prosecutors then agreed to drop the charges against Mr. Smollett in exchange for his agreement to forfeit his $10,000 bond and perform community service. But after an outcry the case was revived by a special prosecutor, and Mr. Smollett was convicted of felony disorderly conduct for falsely reporting to the police that he had been the victim of a bigoted attack.

Persons: Jussie, —, Chicago —, Smollett Locations: Chicago, MAGA

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Supreme Court will hear an appeal of actor Jussie Smollett's disorderly conduct conviction for staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019, then lying to Chicago police about it. The court on Wednesday accepted the appeal from Smollett, formerly a cast member of the television drama “Empire.” It will review a December state appellate court ruling that upheld his 2021 conviction by a Cook County jury. A special prosecutor refiled charges against Smollett after Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx dropped the case and Smollett forfeited his $10,000 bond and conducted community service, which Smollett argues ended the case. Testimony at his trial indicated Smollett paid $3,500 to two men whom he knew from “Empire,” which was filmed in Chicago, to carry out the attack. ___Check out the Associated Press' complete coverage of the Jussie Smollett case.

Persons: Jussie, Kim Foxx, Smollett, Freddrenna Lyle, ”, Donald Trump's Organizations: Ill, Chicago, Smollett, Associated Press Locations: SPRINGFIELD, Illinois, Chicago, Cook, MAGA

His petition, filed Monday, asks the state's highest court to hear the case two months after an appeals court upheld his disorderly conduct convictions and sentence. He was sentenced to five months in jail, but was released pending appeal of his conviction and sentence. The state Supreme Court could take the case or let the lower court's decision stand. A grand jury subsequently restored charges against Smollett in 2020. In arguments before the Illinois Appellate Court last year, Smollett challenged the role of a special prosecutor, jury selection, evidence and other aspects of the case.

Persons: Jussie Smollett, Smollett, ”, Donald Trump’s Organizations: CHICAGO, Chicago police, Smollett, Authorities, Prosecutors Locations: Illinois, Chicago, Cook, MAGA

☆ US appeals court upholds Illinois assault weapons ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Steve Gorman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Cheney Orr/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 3 (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld an Illinois state ban on assault-style weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines enacted after a 2022 mass shooting in Chicago's Highland Park suburb that left seven people dead and dozens more wounded. The Democratic-backed state measure bans the sale and distribution of many kinds of high-powered semiautomatic "assault weapons," including AK-47 and AR-15 rifles, and large-capacity magazines. In one notable aspect of its reasoning in upholding the Illinois law, the appellate panel cited a U.S. Supreme Court opinion last year that struck down New York state's limits on carrying concealed handguns outside the home. In August, a divided Illinois Supreme Court upheld the assault weapons ban in a separate case brought at the state court level, rejecting arguments that the law violated the state constitution by not applying the ban equally to all citizens. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that California's assault weapons ban would remain in force while the state attorney general appealed a lower-court decision declaring that 30-year-old measure unconstitutional.

Persons: Cheney Orr, Diane Wood, Bill Clinton, Wood, Judge Frank Easterbook, Ronald Reagan, Michael Brennan, Donald Trump, Steve Gorman, Nate Raymond, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Circuit, Democratic, AK, District of Columbia, Appeals, Thomson Locations: Chicago, Highland Park , Illinois, U.S, Illinois, Highland, New York, District, Los Angeles, Boston

The majority recognized a difference between firearms for personal use and those the state law reserves for “trained professionals,” semiautomatic weapons, including the popular AR-15. Sullivan said it's likely that plaintiffs in one or more of the multiple cases consolidated in Friday's opinion would seek a U.S. Supreme Court review, where he predicted victory. At least eight other states and the District of Columbia have some sort of prohibition on semiautomatic weapons. The Illinois Supreme Court upheld the law on a 4-3 decision in August. And such semiautomatic weapons are the choice of many gun owners for sport shooting and hunting, they say.

Persons: Diane Wood, ” Ed Sullivan, Sullivan, it's, “, J.B, Pritzker, ” Wood, Bob Morgan, ” Morgan, ” Organizations: Ill, —, Illinois, 7th District U.S, Illinois State Rifle Association, Democratic, Supreme, District of Columbia, Illinois State Police, U.S, “, Highland, Pritzker Locations: SPRINGFIELD, Chicago, Highland, U.S, Illinois, Deerfield

AR-10s for sale at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds & Expo Center Gun Show, after the state of Illinois passed its "assault weapons" ban into law, in Belleville, Illinois, U.S., January 14, 2023. The state's high court in a 4-3 vote rejected arguments by a group of plaintiffs led by a Republican state Representative Dan Caulkins, that the ban violated the Illinois Constitution by not applying the law equally to all citizens. The plaintiffs also argued the law violated the right to keep and bear arms under the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment. That Second Amendment argument is central to separate ongoing federal lawsuits also challenging Illinois' law. Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Alexia GaramfalviOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kate Munsch, Dan Caulkins, Democratic Illinois Governor J.B, Pritzker, Elizabeth Rochford, Rochford, Lisa Holder White, David Overstreet, Mary Kay O’Brien, Nate Raymond, Jonathan Oatis, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: Belle, Clair Fairgrounds, REUTERS, Democratic, Republican, Democratic Illinois Governor, Protect, AK, U.S, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Illinois, Belleville , Illinois, U.S, Highland Park, Protect Illinois, New York, Boston

☆ GC Agenda: May 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Practical Law The Journal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Clawback Listing StandardsPublic companies should be aware that proposed NYSE and Nasdaq clawback listing standards may be in place earlier than expected. Organizations may use biometric data in a variety of ways, including when:tracking employee time; restricting access to physical and digital assets; monitoring consumer shopping behavior; and integrating biometric data into consumer products and services. Consider whether the organization’s current policies and procedures meet applicable biometric data handling requirements, including notice, consent, retention, storage, and security obligations. Review applicable laws and obligations when contracting with service providers that handle biometric data and continuously monitor their performance. In February 2023, the NYSE and Nasdaq filed proposed new listing standards, which contemplated that they could become effective as early as April 27, 2023.

☆ Illinois Top Court Weighs Elimination of Cash Bail
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Mariah Timms | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Illinois is one of nearly two dozen states that has sought to move away from cash bail. The fate of a new Illinois law that aims to eliminate cash bail for criminal defendants is in the hands of the state’s highest court, which heard arguments Tuesday in a challenge by local prosecutors who argue the measure is unconstitutional. The bail reform, part of a law known as the Safe-T Act, was supposed to take effect on Jan. 1 of this year, but the Illinois Supreme Court put it on hold temporarily during litigation. Supporters of the measure say it would rectify an imbalance in the criminal-justice system that keeps some poorer defendants in jail ahead of trial while wealthier defendants who have the means to post bail are released, regardless of the severity of their respective charges. Opponents say eliminating cash bail would lead to rising crime and make it easier for violent suspects to return to the streets.

The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) imposes penalties of $1,000 per violation and $5,000 for reckless or intentional violations. The Chamber in a brief filed last year said a ruling against White Castle would spur litigation that could be financially ruinous for some companies. A Chicago-based U.S. appeals court had asked the Illinois Supreme Court to decide the issue. Ohio-based White Castle in a statement provided by a spokesperson said it was disappointed with the ruling and was considering its options. The case is Cothron v. White Castle System Inc, Illinois Supreme Court, No.

Closely watched state Supreme Court races in which divisive issues such as abortion rights and redistricting fueled political donations and record campaign fundraising ended with mixed results on Election Day. Republican Supreme Court Justice Pat DeWine speaks to supporters at an election watch party on November 8, 2022 in Columbus, Ohio. Andrew Spear / Getty ImagesIn North Carolina, Republicans were victorious, claiming the two open seats on the state Supreme Court and flipping its makeup to a 5-2 Republican majority — clinching power for the first time in six years. The 6th Supreme Court District is comprised of 13 largely Republican-leaning counties, and eight of them rejected the amendment, she added. While the state Legislature is controlled by Republicans, voters may not have been swayed by politics when it came to deciding who sits on the state Supreme Court.

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