Sykes v. Schmitz

*667 ¶ 1 In Illinois, if an applicant for a Firearm Owners Identification Card has been convicted of a felony, the Illinois State Police may deny the application on that basis alone. But the applicant can petition for relief from that denial. In some instances, that petition must be directed to the Director of the State Police. But for certain disqualifying offenses in an applicant's background, that petition may be made in the circuit court. See 430 ILCS 65/8(c), 10(a), 10(c) (West 2014).

¶ 2 This case ultimately turns on which avenue our plaintiff was allowed to take-a petition to the Director…