# Illinois Supreme Court hears police disciplinary process fight

> Chicago police union and city clash over public hearings for officer disciplinary cases.
- Title: Illinois Supreme Court hears police disciplinary process fight
- Summary: Chicago police union and city clash over public hearings for officer disciplinary cases. Illinois Supreme Court will rule on whether Chicago police…
- Keywords: illinois supreme court, chicago police, fraternal order of police, chicago police board, arbitration, public hearings, discipline process, police disciplinary process, news, local, Illinois, Supreme
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/police-reform/2026/09/24/supreme-court-chicago-police-fraternal
- Published: 2026-09-24T17:35:35.797+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: illinois supreme court, chicago police, fraternal order of police, chicago police board, arbitration, public hearings, discipline process, police disciplinary process, news, local
## Illinois Supreme Court hearing
Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday morning over Chicago police disciplinary process handling.
## Legal battle timeline
The dispute began at the union bargaining table and moved through City Council to state courts, halting Chicago’s police oversight system.
## Appellate court ruling
Last year, appellate judges ruled officers could have disciplinary cases heard by an arbitrator instead of the Chicago Police Board.
## Public hearings requirement
The appeals court also required disciplinary hearings to remain open to the public, prompting the police union’s appeal to the state Supreme Court.
## FOP lawyer argument
Matt Pierce, lawyer for the Fraternal Order of Police, said there’s no statute or public policy requiring labor proceedings to be open to the public.
## Public policy debate
Pierce argued the city is taking broad policy statements and suggesting they require certain hearings to be held in public.
## Federal consent decree question
A Supreme Court justice asked whether the federal consent decree mandating Chicago police reforms is public policy.
## FOP lawyer response
Pierce responded that a consent decree cannot establish public policy for the entire state of Illinois.
## City lawyer perspective
A city lawyer argued that Chicago’s facts matter, including 60 years of deep community distrust of police.
## Public confidence argument
Community members want to know if officers they call are 'a person of integrity' and public hearings build trust.
## Union president stance
Union president John Catanzara said the decision is 'pretty clear' and the city 'could never clear' jurisdictional hurdles.
## Arbitration payment issue
The court will also rule on whether officers facing firing must remain paid while cases are pending.
## City lawyer’s argument
City lawyer Aya Barnea argued the city would face unfair financial burdens if officers remain paid.
## Current case status
Only four of 31 officers currently facing charges have elected to have cases heard by the police board; 27 remain in limbo.
## Key takeaway

Illinois Supreme Court will rule on whether Chicago police disciplinary hearings must be public after a union appeal following an appellate court decision that allowed arbitration but required public hearings.