Assault Weapons Ban Case in Court

The matter of suits filed by local residents against some of the state's top officeholders was in Effingham County Circuit Court Tuesday morning. The suits oppose the Assault Weapons Ban enacted by the General Assembly and signed into law by the governor.

4th Circuit Chief Judge Douglas Jarman met by Zoom with attorney Thomas DeVore, who represents those who brought the lawsuit, and with counsel for Governor J.B. Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul and, for the first time, attorneys representing Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Chris Welch. 

DeVore indicated he has pared back the issues he is pursuing to two...whether the Three Readings Rule was violated as the bill proceeded through the legislature, and alleged violations of the Equal Protection Act.

Michael Kasper, the attorney representing Speaker Welch, indicated he will be filing a request to stay the local proceedings until the Illinois Supreme Court rules in a separate case that has been filed in Macon County, making the same arguments made by DeVore. 

Judge Jarman directed that attorneys for all parties will meet again by Zoom at 10am on Tuesday, March 21. In the meantime, the Temporary Restraining Order against enforcement of the weapons ban against the plaintiffs in the case remains in effect.