Likewise, a fee to fund court automation was found to benefit the entire court system in Zamarron, 282 Ill.App.3d at 360, 218 Ill.Dec. 23, 668 N.E.2d 186, and a fee to fund arbitration was found to benefit the overall administration of justice in Mellon, 313 Ill.App.3d at 631, 246 Ill.Dec. 422, 730 N.E.2d 102, and Rose, 321 Ill.App.3d at 99, 254 Ill.Dec. 43, 746 N.E.2d 800. ¶ 17 The recent decision in Smith–Silk v. Prenzler, 2013 IL App (5th) 120456, 376 Ill.Dec. 138, 998 N.E.2d 680, addressed the identical issue before this court. The plaintiff there filed an action challenging the neutral site fee charged civil litigants in Madison and St. Clair Counties.
Andrea G. Smith-Silk v. Kurt PrenzlerLower Court: 2013 IL App (5th) 120456, 376 Ill.Dec. 138, 998 N.E.2d 680 Disposition: Denied.
The Committee also asserts that the drafting history of article XIV, section 3, confirms that the proposed amendment is precisely the sort of initiative that the framers of the constitutional provision contemplated would be the subject of a direct vote by citizens. ¶ 15 Because constitutionality is a pure question of law, our review is de novo. Smith-Silk v. Prenzler, 2013 IL App (5th) 120456, ¶ 12. Further, we review the grant of judgment on the pleadings de novo.