The Rules Committee of the Appellate Lawyers Association, chaired by Garrett L. Boehm, Jr. of Johnson & Bell, Ltd. (photo on left) and John M. Fitzgerald of Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC  (photo on right), meets regularly to review recent changes to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure and Illinois Supreme Court Rules. The Committee also proposes to the Association amendments to existing rules in an effort to resolve ambiguities and address problems incurred under those rules. 

Recently, the Association, at the recommendation of the Rules Committee, submitted a letter to the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee proposing amendments to Supreme Court Rules 306 and 307. The proposals seek to clarify that, under Rules 306(b), 307(d)(1), and 307(d)(2), documents may be served via email. The ALA's proposals also include amendments to Rule 307(a) to authorize the filing of a supporting record pursuant to Rule 328. Finally, the proposals seek to amend Rule 307(d) to provide that, in interlocutory appeals authorized under that rule, the notice of appeal shall be filed in the circuit court, and further, that Rule 373 (which authorizes the filing of documents via mail or delivery to a third-party commercial carrier) may be utilized in Rule 307(d) appeals.

To read the letter, please click here.