The Illinois Supreme Court has announced it will hear oral arguments in the state's landmark pension-overhaul case on March 11.
The Illinois General Assembly and former Gov. Pat Quinn adopted a plan in late 2013 designed to cut into the $111 billion deficit in four state pension programs built by years of underfunding.
Several beneficiaries - state workers, retired teachers, and others - filed a lawsuit and a Sangamon County circuit judge found the law unconstitutional last fall.
The judge ruled that the law violated a provision prohibiting reducing or impairing pension allowances.
The law slightly reduced retirement-fund contributions but also decreased benefits.
