The Illinois Supreme Court is not equipped to handle the large number of students who tour the other Springfield sites. If you are one of those lucky enough to visit the Supreme Court, remember to go about your tour quietly. Like the State Capitol, the Supreme Court is a building where current government business is being conducted.

Even if you do not get to tour the Supreme Court, you may get to see the outside of the building. It is the three-story gray building located just east of the State Capitol on the south side of Capital Avenue.

The Judicial Branch of Government

As discussed in the section on the State Capitol, there are three branches of Illinois state government: the legislative branch, which makes the laws; the executive branch; which carries out the laws; and the judicial branch, which interprets and applies the laws.

The Illinois Supreme Court is the highest level of the Illinois judicial system. The first level is the Circuit Court. A person unhappy with a Circuit Court decision may often have the decision reviewed by the middle level court, the Appellate Court. One who doesn’t like an Appellate Court decision came sometimes have the decision reviewed by the Illinois Supreme Court.

For most cases, the decision of the Illinois Supreme Court is final. If you lose there, you have lost. But there are certain types of cases that may be appealed from the Illinois Supreme Court to the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. For example, a person who claims that his or her rights under the U.S. Constitution have been violated may be able to get the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

Seven Justices

The Illinois Supreme Court has seven judges, called justices. Three are from Cook County and the other four are from judicial districts dividing the state. A majority of four justices must vote for one side in a case for that side to win. If you actually see the court in session with lawyers arguing a case, you will note that the justices do not make a decision on the case right then. They will think about the matter, do some research and read the lawyers’ written arguments, called briefs, before issuing a written decision.

The justices are elected by the people much the same as a mayor, legislator or governor. However, there are two important differences. A justice is elected for a term of ten years, much longer than other elected officials. Also, when the ten years are up, the justice does not have an opponent in the next election. If 60 percent of the voters want to retain the justice in office, he or she gets another ten-year term.

The Building

The building was completed in 1908. Before then the Illinois Supreme Court met in the State Capitol in a room that is now used by Senate committees. There also was a courtroom for the Illinois Supreme Court in the Old State Capitol.

The first floor of the building holds the offices for the clerk of the court. The people who work in these offices keep track of the many cases handled by the court each year.

The second floor contains the courtroom used by the Illinois Supreme Court. It is elegantly decorated and has impressive woodwork. The justices sit on a raised area at the front of the courtroom. Tables and chairs for the lawyers face the justices. Seats for visitors are at the back of the room. The second floor also contains a law library that is open to the public.

The third floor is closed to the public. It has some simply furnished living quarters that the justices use while they are in session.

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