The Illinois Supreme Court is siding with Governor Pat Quinn in his effort to close the Tamms Supermax prison and other correctional facilities.
In a split decision Tuesday, the justices ordered the withdrawal of a preliminary injunction that had stopped Quinn from making the closures. Quinn had planned to close prisons in Tamms, Dwight, the Illinois Youth Center in Murphysboro, the Glass House transition center in Carbondale and others elsewhere since August in an effort to save money.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a lawsuit in Alexander County. An Alexander County judge halted the closure plan until an arbitrator decided if Quinn had followed proper procedures with the labor union in shuttering state facilities. Three justices argued against requiring an end to the injunction. Justice Mary Jane Theis wrote in her dissent that several other court actions on the matter remain unresolved.
