Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn can't proceed with plans to close prisons - at least for now.
A state appeals court has denied his administration's request to dissolve a temporary restraining order that prevented him from closing prisons in Tamms and Dwight, three halfway houses and juvenile detention centers in Joliet and Murphysboro.
The Fifth District Appellate Court entered its order on Wednesday, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees received it on Friday.
An Alexander County judge issued the TRO after AFSCME filed grievances claiming the state was required to bargain over the impact of the closures. It also claimed transferring inmates to other prisons would threaten workers' health and safety.
An arbitrator later ruled in the state's favor. But the union believes that the reasoning was wrong.