(775 ILCS 5/7A-104) (from Ch. 68, par. 7A-104)

(Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-335)

Sec. 7A-104. Judicial proceedings.

(A) Temporary relief.

(1) At any time after a charge is filed, the Department or complainant may petition the appropriate court for temporary relief, pending final determination of the proceedings under this Act, including an order or judgment restraining the respondent from doing or causing any act which would render ineffectual an order which the Commission may enter with respect to the complainant. Whether it is brought by the Department or by the complainant, the petition shall contain a certification by the Director that the particular matter presents exceptional circumstances in which irreparable injury will result from a civil rights violation in the absence of temporary relief.

(2) The petition shall be filed in the circuit court for the county in which the respondent resides or transacts business or in which the alleged violation took place, and the proceedings shall be governed by Part I of Article XI of the "Code of Civil Procedure", as amended. Except as provided in subsection (A) (3), the court may grant temporary relief or a temporary restraining order as it deems just and proper.

(3) When the petition is based upon a civil rights violation as defined in Article 3 of this Act, the relief or restraining order entered by the court shall not exceed 5 days unless:

(a) A longer period is agreed to by the respondent; or

(b) The court finds that there is substantial evidence to demonstrate that the respondent has engaged in unlawful discrimination.

(B) Expedited proceedings.

(1) A complainant or the Department at the request of the complainant may at any time petition the circuit court for expedited proceedings. Except as to causes the circuit court considers to be of greater importance, consideration of petitions for expedited proceedings under this subsection shall take precedence on the docket over all other causes and be assigned for hearing at the earliest practicable date and expedited in every way.

(2) Venue for a petition filed under this subsection shall lie in the county where the respondent resides or is found or where the alleged violation was committed.

(3) Any petition filed by the complainant shall name the Department, Commission and the respondent. Any petition filed by the Department, upon request of the complainant, shall name the Commission and the respondent.

(4) If the circuit court determines that the complainant is likely to die before the termination of the proceedings under this Act, it may order the proceedings expedited. When an order for expedited proceedings is issued, the processing of the complainant's charge by the Department and Commission shall take precedence over all matters except older matters of the same character. Where such order is issued, the Department, the Commission, any panel of the Commission, or any Commission hearing officer shall be authorized to shorten any time period, other than the filing period set by Section 7A-102(A)(1). If such an order is issued and the complainant is before the Department, the Department shall immediately appoint an investigator if an investigator has not been appointed and shall in 90 days either file a complaint or order that no complaint be issued. If the Department fails to make a determination within 90 days the complainant shall have 30 days to file his complaint with the Commission.

(C) Enforcement of Commission orders. When authorized by this Act, the Department, at the request of the Commission, may take whatever action may be authorized for the enforcement of Commission orders.

(Source: P.A. 101-661, eff. 4-2-21.)

(Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-335)

Sec. 7A-104. Judicial proceedings.

(A) Temporary relief.

(1) At any time after a charge is filed, the Department or complainant may petition the appropriate court for temporary relief, pending final determination of the proceedings under this Act. Whether it is brought by the Department or by the complainant, the petition shall contain a certification by the Director that the particular matter warrants temporary relief. The filing of a petition under this paragraph does not affect the initiation or continuation of administrative proceedings under Sections 7A-102 and 8A-102.

(2) The petition shall be filed in the circuit court for the county in which the respondent resides or transacts business or in which the alleged violation took place, and the proceedings shall be governed by Part I of Article XI of the "Code of Civil Procedure", as amended. The court may grant temporary relief or a temporary restraining order as it deems just and proper.

(3) (Blank).

(B) Expedited proceedings.

(1) A complainant or the Department at the request of the complainant may at any time petition the circuit court for expedited proceedings. Except as to causes the circuit court considers to be of greater importance, consideration of petitions for expedited proceedings under this subsection shall take precedence on the docket over all other causes and be assigned for hearing at the earliest practicable date and expedited in every way.

(2) Venue for a petition filed under this subsection shall lie in the county where the respondent resides or is found or where the alleged violation was committed.

(3) Any petition filed by the complainant shall name the Department, Commission and the respondent. Any petition filed by the Department, upon request of the complainant, shall name the Commission and the respondent.

(4) If the circuit court determines that the complainant is likely to die before the termination of the proceedings under this Act, it may order the proceedings expedited. When an order for expedited proceedings is issued, the processing of the complainant's charge by the Department and Commission shall take precedence over all matters except older matters of the same character. Where such order is issued, the Department, the Commission, any panel of the Commission, or any Commission hearing officer shall be authorized to shorten any time period, other than the filing period set by Section 7A-102(A)(1). If such an order is issued and the complainant is before the Department, the Department shall immediately appoint an investigator if an investigator has not been appointed and shall in 90 days either file a complaint or order that no complaint be issued. If the Department fails to make a determination within 90 days the complainant shall have 30 days to file a complaint with the Commission.

(C) Enforcement of Commission orders. When authorized by this Act, the Department, at the request of the Commission, may take whatever action may be authorized for the enforcement of Commission orders.

(Source: P.A. 103-335, eff. 1-1-24.)