Since the passage of the Firearm Concealed Carry Act in 2013, it is legal in Illinois for certain individuals to carry concealed weapons on their persons. Three recently introduced bills seek to expand the reach of the law by allowing those with appropriate licenses to carry weapons in currently prohibited locations.

In a recently published opinion, an Illinois Court of Appeals clarified what types of behavior constitute prosecutorial misconduct in trial settings. In the case, the court held that a prosecutor’s misconduct was cause for the reversal of the lower court’s holding that the defendant was guilty of aggravated sexual assault.

An Illinois man was recently arrested for using an illegal cellphone jamming device while on the ‘L.’ This was not the first time that the man had been charged with jamming cell phones, as he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for the same offense in 2009. The arrest marks the first time a person has been cited for using this type of device on a transit system. Previously, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had only issued citations for those who were attempting to sell the jamming devices online.

Last month, a new law went into effect amending the laws regarding chemical testing for driving under the influence (DUI). When a law enforcement officer detains a driver suspected of operating a vehicle under the influence, he or she must oversee a series of tests to evaluate the driver’s level of intoxication. One of these tests is a chemical evaluation in which the breath or blood of the driver is analyzed. The new law clarifies an officer’s obligation to verbalize specific warnings before administering the test concerning the consequences of a refusal.

Representative Kelly Cassidy recently re-introduced House Bill 4357, which would replace criminal penalties for the possession of minimal amounts of marijuana with a civil fine. The new bill is a variation of the same law that was proposed last year and sent back to the General Assembly, with suggested amendments, by Governor Bruce Rauner.