Opinion ID: 2046389
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Constitutional Adequacy

Text: Since we find no statutory requirement that the Commission inform Carver of her right to judicial review of its decision and the time limit to do so, we must now address the constitutional issue presented. Carver argues that the Commission's decision was constitutionally inadequate. She relies on Johnson v. State Employees Retirement System, 155 Ill.App.3d 616, 108 Ill.Dec. 190, 508 N.E.2d 351 (1987), which held that when an administrative agency renders a decision: (1) procedural due process requires the agency to inform the affected party of the right to administrative review and the 35-day time limit for exercising that right; and (2) an agency's decision that fails to inform a party of this right is constitutionally inadequate and tolls the 35-day filing period. Johnson, 155 Ill.App.3d at 618-19, 108 Ill.Dec. 190, 508 N.E.2d 351. We cannot accept this argument. The text of the Illinois Constitution does not recognize a right to appeal from administrative proceedings. Ill. Const. 1970, art. VI, §§ 6, 9; see Glasco Electric Co. v. Department of Revenue, 87 Ill.App.3d 1070, 1071-72, 42 Ill.Dec. 896, 409 N.E.2d 511 (1980), aff'd, 86 Ill.2d 346, 56 Ill.Dec. 10, 427 N.E.2d 90 (1981); Board of Education of Addison School District No. 4 v. Gates, 22 Ill.App.3d 16, 20, 316 N.E.2d 525 (1974). Further, the right to appeal from an administrative decision is not essential to due process of law. Rather, the right may or may not be granted in a given situation as the legislature deems appropriate    without sacrificing uniformity as to proceedings and practice, and without enacting special legislation. Board of Education of Gardener School District No. 112 v. County Board of School Trustees, 28 Ill.2d 15, 18, 191 N.E.2d 65 (1963); accord Reetz v. Michigan, 188 U.S. 505, 508, 23 S.Ct. 390, 392, 47 L.Ed. 563, 566 (1903); see Johnson, 155 Ill.App.3d at 620, 108 Ill.Dec. 190, 508 N.E.2d 351 (Jiganti, J., dissenting). Accordingly, Johnson v. State Employees Retirement System, 155 Ill. App.3d 616, 108 Ill.Dec. 190, 508 N.E.2d 351 (1987), is hereby overruled. We conclude that the Commission provided adequate notice to Carver. Thus, the Act's 35-day filing period was not tolled.