CHICAGO (AP) — The Illinois Supreme Court’s chief justice has instructed lower-court judges to notify state police when they deem anyone mentally unsound.
Thomas Kilbride raised the matter in a memorandum this week. The Associated Press obtained a copy Thursday from the office of State Sen. Dan Kotowski.
It comes as a U.S. court’s June 9 deadline approaches for Illinois lawmakers to pass legislation allowing public possession of weapons.
Kilbride reminds judges that more stringent requirements kicked in this year requiring they report such mental-health rulings to state police. Police had complained in recent years of lax compliance by judges.
Police use the information to do background checks on gun-license applicants.
Kilbride’s Wednesday memo to 935 judges says that “recent gun-related tragedies and the current concealed carry debate” have heightened scrutiny over compliance.
