Illinois’ first constitution laid groundwork for the state’s future

Cotter’s Corner

By Daniel A. Cotter

Daniel A. Cotter is a partner at Latimer LeVay Fyock LLC and an adjunct professor at The John Marshall Law School, where he teaches SCOTUS Judicial Biographies. The article contains his opinions and is not to be attributed to anyone else. He can be reached at dcotter@llflegal.com.

Posted January 15, 2018 1:30 PM

This December marks the bicentennial of Illinois’ statehood. Much fanfare and celebration will take place later in the year as we near the historic date of Dec. 3, 1818. This column looks at the Illinois Supreme Court and its original justices.StatehoodIllinois was approved for statehood on April 18, 1818, and a state constitutional convention was called. On July 6, an election was held to select delegates to the convention. The convention met in August and approved a constitution patterned very much after the U.S …

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