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To the Editor,

The recent Illinois Supreme Court ruling in the Nolan v. Weil-McLain case represents a significant step forward for a state that continually ranks as one of the worst in the country for legal fairness.

In a 5-1 decision, the court reversed the 1987 Lipke ruling, which prevented defendants in asbestos cases from introducing evidence of the plaintiffs’ exposure to other sources of asbestos. By striking down this arcane rule, the Supreme Court has provided defendants with a much greater ability to present their side of the case. Illinois was the only state in the country to have had a rule like the Lipke decision in effect.

Unfortunately, third district justice Thomas Kilbride was the only justice to dissent from the courts’ majority opinion. Citizens in the third Supreme Court District need to keep themselves informed about what is happening with the Supreme Court because they will be voting next year on whether or not Justice Kilbride should be retained. As citizens, we have a voice in the judicial process, and we owe it to ourselves to take our civic responsibility seriously.

In the coming months, the Supreme Court will be making a ruling on the constitutionality of the state’s medical malpractice law. We know where Justice Kilbride stood on the Nolan case. How will he vote on the medical malpractice case? We don’t know the answer to that question yet, but one thing is for sure, we all need to be paying attention to the decisions our elected justices on the Supreme Court are making.

Travis Akin,

executive director Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch

Marion