Supreme Court of Illinois

Only the Attorney General is empowered to represent the state in litigation when it is the real party in interest. Illinois Code of Civil Procedure section 20-104(b) is unconstitutional to the extent that it purports to confer standing on private citizens to sue in cases where the state is the real party in interest.

Appellate Information

• Decided 09/19/2002
• Published 11/08/2002

Judges

• Justice KILBRIDE delivered the opinion of the court:

Court

• Supreme Court of Illinois

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Robert S. Atkins,Jay Stewart, Terrance Norton, Chicago, for appellants., Alexander Polikoff, Chicago, for amicus curiae Business & Professional People for the Public Interest., Joel A. D'Alba, of Asher, Gittler, Greenfield & D'Alba, Ltd., Chicago, for amicus curiae Illinois State Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations., Marvin Gittler, of Asher, Gittler, Greenfield & D'Alba, Ltd., Chicago, for amicus curiae Joint Counsel No. 25 International Brotherhood of Teamsters., Stephen M. Shapiro, Jeffrey W. Sarles, Steffen N. Johnson, of Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, of Chicago, for amicus curiae Tyrone C. Fahner.


• For Appellees:
  
• James R. Thompson, Timothy J. Rooney, Jack J. Crowe, Raymond W. Mitchell, of Winston & Strawn, Special Assistant Attorneys General, Chicago, for appellee George H. Ryan., Robert M. Andalman, Charles A. Duffield, of Altheimer & Gray, Chicago, for appellee Citizens for Ryan., Michael J. Kralovec, Sara J. Rowden, of Nash, Lalich & Kralovec, Special Assistant Attorneys General, Chicago, for appellees Scott Fawell and Mike Chamness., Michael J. Hayes, Special Assistant Attorney General, Wallace C. Solberg, Arthur M. Scheller, III, of Gardner, Carton & Douglas, Chicago, for appellees Mark Sniegowski and John Chychula.