SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The newest members of the Illinois General Assembly have been working in Springfield for over two months and tonight they get to go to law school.
The Illinois Supreme Court is hosting what it calls Law School for Legislators Tuesday night from 5-6 p.m. at its building in Springfield.
This marks the return of the tradition for the first time since the pandemic.
"Obviously we we couldn't do it the first couple of years of COVID. We did schedule one last year, and then there was a resurgence of COVID," said Spokesman Chris Bonjean.
"We had to cancel it, so we're very much looking forward to being back in person."
Justices are expected to talk about the court’s authority and the importance of properly funding probation services, but not challenges to the assault weapons ban or the end of cash bail that are before them.
"There won't be any discussion of cases that are currently under consideration, but previous cases have already been decided- those are included," said Bonjean.
Bonjean said the number of state representatives and senators who are lawyers is on the decline, so the discussion between members of the judiciary and legislative branches aims to educate and encourage cooperation.
One of those discussions will be about the work being done by the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services.
It’s gathering information about defendants to help judges decide when some should be held despite the elimination of monetary bail.
After the hour-long event, there will be refreshments and a tour of the building that opened in 1908.
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