The legislation divided Cook County into three Illinois Supreme Court subdistricts. Republican legislators had approved the bill without public input on their last day controlling both houses of the General Assembly. The Council believed the bill violated the Illinois Constitution and opposed the legislation because passing legislation with no pubic input or discussion is remarkably bad public policy. The Council and Justice James Heiple. In March 1997 at a press conference attended by nearly all of Chicago's largest media outlets, the Council urged a delay in the disciplinary hearing involving Supreme Court Justice James Heiple to allow for replacement of another Illinois Supreme Court Justice, Moses Harrison, on the Illinois Courts Commission.
Council seeks resignation of government official.
In April 1997 the Illinois Supreme Court accepted the resignation of Justice William Holdridge as Acting Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts. The action occurred after the Council asked the Cook County State's Attorney and Illinois Attorney General to prepare a Quo Warranto legal action to block the appointment. The Council believes that appointing a sitting Illinois Appellate Court justice to serve simultaneously as Acting Director violated the Illinois Constitution and Supreme Court rule. Both government officials refused and the Council was preparing its own Quo Warranto suit when the Supreme Court acted. Council urges Moratorium on the Death Penalty.