Illinois Supreme Court announces amendments to July 15 eviction order

[July 30, 2021] 

The Illinois Supreme Court announced today amendments to Order M.R. 30370 concerning residential evictions. These amendments clarify the order on July 15, 2021, which announced the winding down of the eviction moratorium in Illinois.

The Court Operations During COVID-19 Task Force (Task Force) recognized there was a need to clarify Paragraph 2 of the July 15 order exempting from the temporary stay those cases that involve a direct threat to the health and safety of other tenants or an immediate and severe risk to property. The amended order does this and brings the July 15 order in line with the Governor’s Executive Orders, which permit the filing and enforcement of eviction cases involving a direct threat.

The order was further amended to make it clear that all eviction actions may be filed and set for return dates and status dates during the 30-day stay period. The temporary stay only applies to dispositive hearings, trials on the merits, and judgments.

 The primary goal of the Task Force in recommending amendments to the order was to get cases filed and before judges who would be able to direct litigants to the resources available through the Governor’s programs – rental assistance and financial assistance to tenants and landlords alike – such as Eviction Help Illinois.

The triage period will still begin on August 1, 2021, and will conclude on September 1, 2021, when the order is vacated.
Amended Order M.R. 30370 is available on the Court website by clicking here.

[S. Corbin
Admin Assistant to Dir. of Communications]