Sangamon Sun

Everyone is looking at the Illinois Supreme Court and what it is going to do about the multitude of lawsuits challenging Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive orders and restrictions on residents and businesses.

Pritzker has issued 13 executive orders involving the COVID-19 pandemic since March 9, 2020, The Center Square reported. The Democratic-held legislature has so far refused to take up any legislation regarding Pritzker’s authority, despite the numerous lawsuits against his rolling orders every 30 days.

Laura Grochocki, an attorney who is representing the mother of Trevor Till — an 18-year-old who died by suicide in October — in a lawsuit alleging Pritzker’s blocking of high school sports was the reason for Till’s death, applauded Judge John Madonia, who denied a request by Pritzker last month to have the case transferred to a different county.

“And I think everybody in Illinois who’s concerned about the constitutionality of these restrictions should really be applauding Judge Madonia for his courage,” Grochocki said, according to The Center Square.

Madonia said in the order that Pritzker’s motion for a change of venue was an attempt for a more “friendly forum.”

Pritzker’s “motion to change venue to Sangamon County is a not-so-veiled disguise to shop for a friendly forum to decide another COVID dispute involving State of Illinois activity restrictions that have been implemented in response to the continued spread of the coronavirus,” Madonia said in his Jan. 25 order, The Center Square reported.

“[Pritzker] can’t seem to respond to our nine-page motion for summary judgement, but he can file a 130-page motion to dismiss,” Grochocki said, the news media reported. “It’s a delay tactic and it’s being used very successfully to prevent decisions from being made.”

The case is one of many that have been appealed to the state Supreme Court.