Illinois Appeals Attorney Robert G. Black

Whether a case is heard in state or federal court depends on what type of case it is. The federal court system has jurisdiction over a number of areas including federal crimes, bankruptcy, patent, copyright and trademark cases, admiralty, antitrust, civil rights, labor relations, environmental cases and securities and banking regulation. If a case falls into on of these categories, it is typically heard in federal court. All other types of cases are usually heard in state court.

Illinois State Appellate System

If your case is initially heard in the Illinois court system, any appeals will follow through the state appeals court. The Illinois Appellate Court, which consists of three (3) justices, is the intermediate appellate court and the first step in the appeals process. If the appellate panel does not rule in your favor, you can petition for the panel to rehear the case or petition for the Illinois Supreme Court to hear the case. Neither court is required to accept the petition. There are seven (7) justices on the Illinois Supreme Court and their decisions represent the final word on state law.

U.S. Federal Appeals System

If your case is under federal jurisdiction and was initially heard in a U.S. District Court, any appeal would first go to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. There are 13 U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal. The Seventh Circuit hears cases from Illinois District Courts. U.S. Circuit Courts usually hear cases in three (3) judge panels. The highest court in the land, the U.S. Supreme Court is the next level in the federal appeals system. The U.S. Supreme Court only accepts a small fraction of the cases it is asked to hear each year.

Attorney Robert G. Black has experience handling appellate cases in both the state and federal court system. He has briefed and argued matters in the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court and the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit. If you have a case to appeal or to defend against appeal contact us at the Law Offices of Robert G. Black, P.C..