The Illinois Supreme Court will leave the Illinois Supreme Court Building in Springfield behind for a day and “ride the circuit” to hear oral arguments at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb on March 21.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases starting at 10 a.m. (doors open at 9 a.m. and all guests are asked to be seated by 9:30 a.m.), on Thursday, March 21, at the Holmes Student Center at Northern Illinois University, located at 340 Carroll Avenue in DeKalb. The cases before the court will be People v. Flournoy and Andrew W. Levenfeld & Assoc. v. O’Brien.
“The Court is so excited to continue its tradition of Riding the Circuit and bring oral arguments to Northern Illinois University,” Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis said. “It is such a pleasure to hold court in front of hundreds of students who are likely observing the work we do for the first time. My colleagues and I look forward to welcoming them and other local residents to DeKalb on March 21.”
Students and teachers from local schools have been invited to participate in the March 21 program either by attending the arguments live or watching via a live stream at https://vimeo.com/event/4041658.
“We are honored to be hosting the Supreme Court of Illinois for the first time at NIU,” said NIU College of Law Dean Cassandra L. Hill. “The Supreme Court’s practice of hearing oral arguments is a crucial aspect of the American legal system, offering a dynamic interaction between the Court and those directly involved in a case. This valuable opportunity serves as not only a unique educational opportunity but also as a critical component of the legal process that can inspire a deeper appreciation for the legal system and its role in society.”
Those attending are asked to RSVP to lawevents@niu.edu by March 18. Attendees are asked to arrive early as all guests should be seated by 9:30 a.m. for opening remarks. Groups of 5 or more should contact Assistant Dean Melody Mitchell at mmitchell@niu.edu to arrange for group seating. Backpacks, other large items or bags, food, and drink will not be allowed. Proper courtroom decorum will be required. A question-and-answer session will follow the oral arguments. Parking information is below for general attendees and bus drop-off for groups.
In People v. Flournoy, the defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery for shooting and killing a car dealer while robbing a car dealership in 1991. In 2021, defendant filed a pleading, claiming he has newly discovered evidence that: (1) demonstrates his actual innocence; (2) shows the State concealed and fabricated evidence; and (3) shows that he received ineffective assistance of counsel at trial. The lower courts denied relief to the defendant.
At issue before the Illinois Supreme Court is whether this newly discovered evidence may be used both to support defendant’s claim of actual innocence and to supplement his constitutional claim that the State concealed and fabricated evidence.
In Andrew W. Levenfeld & Assoc. v. O’Brien, two law firms sued their former clients to recover attorney fees for their services in an estate dispute. The clients had fired the law firms two months before the clients, represented by new counsel, settled their dispute. The law firms sought to recover the value of their legal services based on their contingency fee agreement with the clients. However, the contingency fee agreement did not specify how the law firms would split the contingency fee, an omission that violates the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct. The trial court found that the law firms were entitled to a reasonable fee, consisting of the contingency fee minus the amount the clients paid to new counsel.
The appellate court held that the violation of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct renders the contingency fee agreement unenforceable, and thus, the reasonable fee for the law firms cannot be based on the contingency fee. The appellate court remanded the case to the trial court to determine the reasonable value of the law firms’ services.
At issue before the Illinois Supreme Court is whether the law firms’ failure to specify how they would split the contingency fee renders the contingency fee agreement unenforceable and whether this failure prevents a court from considering the contingency rate when determining the reasonable value of the law firms’ services.
The program is sponsored by the Illinois Supreme Court, Northern Illinois University and Northern Illinois University College of Law, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, the Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission and the DeKalb County Bar Association.
Parking for General Attendees:
General attendees for the Illinois Supreme Court event should park in the Visitor’s Parking Lot located 121 Carroll Avenue DeKalb, IL 60115. Parking in the Visitor’s Parking Lot for guests attending this event will be FREE from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm on March 21. Visit campus parking for maps and additional information. Please be aware of any restricted spaces. Tickets received are at the owner’s expense.
The Visitor’s Parking Lot can only be accessed from Lincoln Highway. Once parked, head towards the Student Center (tall tan building north of the parking lot) and enter on the west side of the building through the far north doors. Head up the flight of stairs and follow instructions from there.
From I-88, exit at Annie Glidden Road and continue to Lincoln Hwy (Rt 38) and make a right (east) to Carroll Ave (first light) and make a left. The DeKalb Police Department and Pizza Hut are at the corner of Lincoln Hwy and Carroll Ave. The Visitor’s Lot will be down on the left.
From the east, take Lincoln Hwy (Rt 38) west into DeKalb to Carroll Ave and make a right. The DeKalb Police Department and Pizza Hut are at the corner of Lincoln Hwy and Carroll Ave. The Visitor’s Lot will be down on the left.
From the west, take Lincoln Hwy (Rt 38) east into DeKalb to Carroll Ave (first light past Annie Glidden Road) and make a left. The DeKalb Police Department and Pizza Hut are at the corner of Lincoln Hwy and Carroll Ave. The Visitor’s Lot will be down on the left.
Bus Parking and Drop-off for Groups:
Directions for bus drivers: Bus drivers should drop off their groups at the Holmes Student Center Bus Turnaround area located 201 Carroll Avenue DeKalb, IL 60115. Buses can only access the Turnaround area from Lucinda Ave.
From I-88, exit at Annie Glidden Road and continue to Lucinda Ave and make a right. Continue towards the Holmes Center and make a right into the bus turnaround area just before the light.
Bus drivers should drop off groups by 9 am. Groups should quickly exit the bus and proceed inside the Holmes Student Center. Enter through the north west doors and head up the flight of stairs. Follow instructions from there.
For those that need bus parking: After drop off, bus drivers should make a left on Lucinda Ave and continue down Lucinda Ave (through campus) a couple miles towards the Convocation Center. Bus drivers will see the back of the Convocation Centr on the left and will continue to Parking Lot C3 on the right to park. Buses may remain there until pick up.
The event ends at 12:30 pm. Groups should arrange specific pick-up times with their drivers.
