Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan Asks Supreme Court to Hear Appeal

When PROTECT was fighting to close the hated incest loophole in Illinois last spring, Attorney General Lisa Madigan stood up for kids. She endorsed Rep. Joe Dunn's bill early, helping ensure a huge victory for child victims of sexual abuse in Illinois. Now she's earned our respect and thanks again.

Background Information PROTECT's Statement, March 18th Alton Telegraph, March 12th St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 11th AP, 2001: Photos and Details of Abuse Related Website: Memorial to Bradley McGee

Recently, Illinois' 4th District Appellate Court ruled that a three-year old boy should be taken from his foster family and returned to his biological mother, Sheryl Coe Hardy. Ms. Hardy was convicted in Florida of abusing and murdering the child's older brother, but was released early. Our statement on this case and what it means can be read here. The court's ruling that a consistent pattern of abandonment, abuse, torture and murder was not enough evidence to prove unfitness to parent could put many more Illinois children in danger.

PROTECT asked our members and allies to contact Attorney General Madigan and urge her to fight the court's ruling all the way to the Supreme Court. You responded in great numbers, from across Illinois and overseas. Never doubt that your voice has power when it is focused in the right direction! The Attorney General's office filed notice on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 that it planned to appeal the decision.

While everything we do is for real, individual children, PROTECT does not, and cannot, “take on” individual cases. We are a legislative and political lobby. We mobilized our members and supporters because of the disastrous impact a court decision like this one could have on all abused and neglected children in Illinois. Whether the State will be heard by the Supreme Court—and whether the young boy in this case will be given to Sheryl Coe Hardy—is impossible to know now. Our heart goes out to all of the people who love and care for him and have tried to protect him.

But there is one important victory here. By continuing its fight, the State of Illinois has sent a message that will have real consequences. This decision tells child protective workers that their work is respected and worth fighting for. It tells state's attorneys that when they go to the mat for kids they will be backed up by their superiors, win or lose. It tells judges that they will be challenged when their rulings endanger child safety. It tells the public that one little boy is worth fighting for until the end.

And you told Illinois that people are watching, and they want children protected!