Trimble v. Gordon

At issue in this case is the constitutionality of § 12 of the Illinois Probate Act1 which allows illegitimate children to inherit by intestate succession only from their mothers. Under Illinois law, legitimate children are allowed to inherit by intestate succession from both their mothers and their fathers.2

I

Appellant Deta Mona Trimble is the illegitimate daughter *764of appellant Jessie Trimble 3 and Sherman Gordon. Trimble and Gordon lived in Chicago with Deta Mona from 1970 until Gordon died in 1974, the victim of a homicide. On January 2, 1973, the Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill., had…