Chief Justice Anne M. Burke and the Illinois Supreme Court announced today the amendment of Rule 415, which will allow attorneys to provide a copy of discovery to a defendant unless good cause is shown why the discovery should not be furnished to the defendant.

Rule 311 - Accelerated Docket (a) Mandatory Accelerated Disposition of Child Custody or Allocation of Parental Responsibilities or Relocation of Unemancipated Minors Appeals.

Upon a motion by defendant's attorney the court shall allow the furnishing of discovery to the defendant unless the State objects, at which time the court shall weigh the benefit to the defense against any potential harm or danger raised by the prosecution and enter an appropriate order.

R. 411. These rules shall be applied in all criminal cases wherein the accused is charged a felony, and all juvenile delinquency cases wherein the accused is charged with an offense that would be a felony if committed by an adult.

Rule 137 - Signing of Pleadings, Motions and Other Documents-Sanctions (a) Signature requirement/certification. Every pleading, motion and other document of a party represented by an attorney shall be signed by at least one attorney of record in his individual name, whose address shall be stated.

Rule of Professional Conduct 3.1 “A lawyer shall not bring or defend a proceeding, or assert or controvert an issue therein, unless there is a basis in law and fact for doing so that is not frivolous, which includes a good-faith argument for an extension, modification or reversal of existing law.”

In an appeal pending in the Appellate Court, the court or a judge thereof, on its own motion or on the request of a party, may order a prehearing conference to consider the simplification of the issues and any other matters that may aid in the disposition of the appeal.