What are Illinois Court Records?

Docket Sheet

This document contains the names of the attorneys, plaintiff, defendant, and judge. It also lists all the documents referenced in the trial and a summary of each.

Judgments and Orders

This document clearly states the court's decision and clarifies issues relating to the decision, such as who won and any applicable punishments or court orders.

Transcripts

Transcripts record precisely what was said and who said it. These records are taken from an electronic recording of the proceedings or a real-time transcriber.

Evidence

This includes written documents, visual images, or verbal recordings which any party in a case uses to prove the validity of facts in the case.

Court Minutes

This is a written summary of court events, including the beginning and end of the trial, special actions, and minute orders.

Pleadings

Pleadings are formal documents lawyers draft for the trial. They state each party's complaints, defenses, admissions, or other stances related to the case.

Civil Cases

A civil case is generally a dispute between people or businesses. The process begins when one party (plaintiff) files a complaint against another party (defendant). The complaint describes the plaintiff's damages or injury, explains how the defendant caused the harm, shows that the court has jurisdiction, and asks the court to order relief. Civil cases include family-related matters, lawsuits for money, and landlord/tenant disputes.

In a civil case, the court listens to both the plaintiff and defendant sides and decides on the issue. The court may also choose whether or not monetary damages should be awarded and, if so, how much those damages will be.

Criminal Cases

A criminal case begins when the Illinois government brings legal action against a person for committing a crime. The state has the burden of proof to show that the defendant committed a crime in violation of state law beyond any reasonable doubt.

In a criminal case, the jury decides the defendant's guilt or innocence. If found guilty, the defendant may have to pay a fine, serve time in jail or prison, or be placed on probation.

Illinois Supreme Court

The highest court within the state of Illinois is the Supreme Court. It has authority over issues like legislative redistricting and deciding if the Governor can serve in office. The court can also handle cases about state revenue and certain legal orders, such as mandamus, prohibition, or habeas corpus.

Most cases arrive at the Supreme Court's door by way of the Appellate Court. However, when a death sentence is imposed by the Circuit Court the Supreme Court is often the court that handles the appeal. The Supreme Court can also create rules that enable handling direct appeals in different cases.

The Illinois Supreme Court has seven justices. Three justices handle representation for the Judicial District First Appellate within Cook County, while one justice represents each of the other four districts. To make a decision, at least four justices must vote in favor.

Illinois Appellate Court

In Illinois, the Appellate Court is the second highest court. This court checks if trial courts made any mistakes when applying the law. It will uphold the trial court's decision if it finds no errors or minor ones that did not affect the outcome. If there is a significant error, the Appellate Court can change the trial court's decision or send the case back for a new trial. Any party can appeal a Circuit Court decision through the Appellate Court, but the State's Attorney cannot go through the same appeal process for not guilty verdicts.

The Illinois Appellate Court is divided into five Judicial Districts. Cook County is the First District, while the rest of the state is divided into four additional districts. Each district has a similar population and includes nearby counties. The Second District comprises the Nineteenth Circuit and five other circuits.

Illinois Circuit Courts

The Circuit Courts in Illinois serve as courts with a general jurisdiction, meaning they have the authority to hear almost all types of cases, except for specific cases reserved for the Supreme Court. These courts handle a large variety of criminal and civil matters, including small claims, domestic relations, and criminal felonies.

Illinois is divided into 25 Judicial Circuits. Each Circuit consists of one or more adjoining counties. There are Associate and Circuit Judges in the Circuit system.

Circuit Judges become elected for a six-year term, either throughout the entire circuit or from their home county. After their initial term, they must run for retention every six years. Circuit Judges also elect a selected Chief Judge who is responsible for offering administrative guidance for the whole circuit according to local court rules.

In contrast, Associate Judges are selected based on merit by way of the Circuit Judges and gain a term of four years. They are then reviewed for retention every four years. Associate Judges are tasked with hearing nearly every case type, but they require Supreme Court authorization to handle felony cases.