Cecil Wren, Plaintiffs-Appellees-Cross-Appellants v. Nolan Jones, Defendants-Appellants-Cross-Appellees

This case involves allegations that twenty-six employees of the State of Illinois were discharged for political reasons in violation of their right to free association, due process and equal protection as guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

Plaintiffs are twenty-six state employees who, according to defendants, were necessarily “laid off;” twenty-five from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and one from the Illinois Department of Mental Health (DMH). Defendants are either current or past officers or employees of the IDOT, DMH or Illinois Department of Personnel…