Illinois’ top court could use more friends, according to the appellate bar.The Appellate Lawyers Association is pushing a rule change clarifying that friend-of-the-court briefs are allowed while appeals are pending.Right now there is no rule prohibiting such filings when a court is still deciding whether to take a case. But the Illinois Supreme Court in 2006 issued an order that cast doubt on the practice.Since the filing in that case, Kinkel v. Cingular Wireless, it’s been customary to forego attempts to file …