Court Opinion

ID: 9710398
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:08:53.028337+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:22:56.541110
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE GARMAN, specially concurring: I agree with the majority’s conclusion that the motion in question was permissible under the current language of section 2 — 1203(a). I write separately to express serious concerns regarding the practical effects of the statute in its current form. As the majority states, section 2 — 1203(a) of the Code makes mention of the contents of any post-judgment motion. As such, the majority correctly concludes that the plain language of the Code provides no basis for a specificity requirement. However, the current requirements raise the specter that a motion need be nothing more than an empty shell in order to be effective. Permitting skeletal motions invites sloppiness and will only create more confusion for reviewing courts. A motion that is devoid of detail does not meaningfully inform the trial court, or reviewing courts, of what objections or points have been raised. A party could, theoretically, file a motion that says nothing more than, “We request a do over.” Furthermore, it is not difficult to envision abuse of the requirements as currently written. The lack of a specificity requirement encourages spurious pleadings or blatant attempts to extend the time for leave to appeal through the filing of an empty, meaningless motion to reconsider. While I agree with the majority that the filer of a motion should not have to guess how much detail is enough (202 Ill. 2d at 33), there is a difference between insufficient detail and no detail at all. I believe that a motion containing absolutely no identification and articulation of objections or points does not contribute to fair and informed decisionmaking. The law demands some specificity to be administered effectively and consistently. To that end, I sincerely hope that the legislature addresses the lack of any content requirements for motions to reconsider in nonjury cases. JUSTICE KILBRIDE joins in this special concurrence.