Court Opinion

ID: 9529878
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:55:05.802238+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:56.654466
License: Public Domain

PRESIDING JUSTICE McCULLOUGH, specially concurring: I write this special concurrence only with respect to employer’s argument as to the composition of the panel. Commission Rule 7030.30(d)(2) (50 Ill. Adm. Code §7030.30(d)(2) (amended at 20 Ill. Reg. 3820, eff. February 15, 1996)) provides that when a commissioner withdraws from a case, the Commission will transfer the case to a commissioner of the same statutorily designated class. The record does not indicate whom Commissioner Ruth replaced, or the basis for him sitting on this case. The parties, both claimant and employer, should be noticed as to who are the Commission members designated to hear the case. The Act is clear that, where a three-member panel hears oral argument, it “shall be comprised of not more than one representative citizen of the employing class and not more than one representative citizen of the employee class.” 820 ILCS 305/19(e) (West 2004). I believe in all cases, the Commission panel should be comprised of one member of the employee class, one member of the employer class, and one member of the public class. Giving notice to the parties of the panel composition is important. In the recent past, this panel has had before it cases where only two commissioners are shown. JUSTICE HOLDRIDGE joins in this special concurrence.