The Illinois Supreme Court today issued an opinion striking down a law that cut civil juries in half. The law would also have hiked juror pay.
When they passed it in 2014, legislators argued that having fewer jurors made the higher pay affordable. But critics say really, it was a thinly-veiled parting gift to trial lawyers from Democrats while they still controlled the governor's mansion.
The thought being, that smaller juries would be prone to paying out higher awards in personal injury cases.
Doctor Tom Anderson is president of the Illinois State Medical Society.
"Usually doctors are on the receiving end of lawsuits involving medical issues … anybody being sued for money under an arrangement would probably prefer a more searching examination of the facts than you're likely to get in a smaller number of jurors." -Dr. Tom Anderson
In its decision, the state's high court said the Illinois constitution protects the right not just to a jury, but to one with 12 members.
