Housekeeping Matters Wednesday in Accuracy Firearms Lawsuit

Mostly housekeeping items were addressed during a status hearing today regarding a lawsuit brought by Accuracy Firearms against the state's top office holders.

Accuracy and another 900 some plaintiffs filed suit against Governor Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Chris Welch earlier this year. They alleged that the weapons and ammunition ban passed by the General Assembly and signed into law by the governor was improper. The plaintiffs received a Temporary Restraining Order against being subject to the law.

4th Circuit Chief Judge Douglas Jarman said Wednesday that the TRO remains in effect, with the case next back in court at 10am on March 7. A separate suit brought in Effingham County by Tiffany Barclay against the same four defendants also remains in effect, with the same TRO. Separate lawsuits have been filed in White and Macon counties, seeking the same relief.

(THOMAS DeVORE)

Plaintiffs' attorney Thomas DeVore has asked for the four cases be consolidated into one suit heard in Effingham County. Attorneys for Pritzker and Raoul have filed a motion to have the suits dismissed. Additionally, the attorneys for Pritzker and Raoul are asking that the Macon County case be kept separate from the other three cases.

It is thought that the Illinois Supreme Court could rule as soon this week on the consolidation of cases question.