Steven Pflaum was recently featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin article "After Rauner Signature, Top Court to Overhaul Filing, Appearance Fees," published on August 23, 2018. The article discusses the recently signed House Bill 4594, which will dramatically reform Illinois law regarding the imposition of court fees and costs in civil lawsuits and in criminal and traffic proceedings. The legislation is designed to reduce barriers to access to justice created by skyrocketing court fees and costs in civil cases, as well as excessive variations across the state in the amount of fees and costs imposed for the same criminal or traffic offense.
The legislation is the culmination of work by the Illinois Statutory Court Fee Task Force, chaired by Steve Pflaum, which brought together a group of legislators, judges, lawyers, and court clerks to study and make recommendations to the Illinois General Assembly and Illinois Supreme Court for improving the current system regarding court fees and costs. New fee schedules and procedures authorized by the legislation will be implemented starting July 1, 2019.
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