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Illinois Circuit Courts Circuit Courts have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases, with the exception of cases heard exclusively by the Court of Claims or the Illinois Supreme Court.
Circuit Courts may be organized into divisions based on case type, such as Law Division (for general civil cases), Criminal Division, Probate Division, Traffic Division, and Domestic Relations Division. Circuit Courts may also have divisions for Juvenile Court and Juvenile Drug Court.
Circuit Courts offer a simplified Small Claims procedure for most civil cases that involve less than $5000 in dispute.
Circuit Courts share jurisdiction with the Illinois Supreme Court over cases related to revenue, mandamus prohibition and habeas corpus, but if the Supreme Court accepts jurisdiction over a particular case, a Circuit Court cannot. In addition, Circuit Courts may not hear cases related to General Assembly redistricting or cases related to the ability of the Governor to serve or resume office.Illinois The Court of Claims The Court of Claims has statewide jurisdiction and offices in Springfield and Chicago. The Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction over many types of civil cases involving the State of Illinois.
Cases heard by the Court of Claims include contract disputes, certain torts, some claims for time unjustly served in prison, all claims for recoupment made by the State against any claimant, certain types of cases involving the FutureGen Project and most claims against the State based on Illinois law or regulation.
The Court of Claims handles most claims based on the Line of Duty Act, the Crime Victims Compensation Act and the Illinois National Guardsman’s Compensation Act.
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