Extra Innings · The Front Office
Lights Out on the North Side
Chicago National League Ball Club, Inc. v. Thompson (1985)
Charge: Constitutional challenge (special legislation / equal protection) - noise and lighting laws effectively barring night baseball at one old ballpark (suit against the Governor of Illinois and the city)Court: Supreme Court of IllinoisDocket: The Front Office
Were a state law and a city ordinance that effectively barred night games at one ballpark unconstitutional special legislation aimed at a single team?
The facts
A historic neighborhood ballpark was the last big-league park without lights. The team's corporate owner wanted to install lights and play night games. The state legislature passed a nighttime noise law that in practice applied only to that park, and the city council passed a similar ordinance. The club sued, arguing the laws singled it out unfairly and were unconstitutional.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: Chicago National League Ball Club, Inc. v. Thompson, 108 Ill. 2d 357 (1985)
Read more at illinoiscourts.gov. The source reveals the outcome.