Illinois is more than a year behind on payments to people who've been wronged by state government.
These individuals can seek compensation through the Court of Claims. Its caseload ranges from injuries caused by state workers, to the pleas of people unjustly imprisoned for crimes they did not commit.
Claims Court Chief Justice Peter Birnbaum says the court hasn't let the budget impasse interfere with its work.
"I made the decision for the court: Let’s issue these orders, enter these awards. Because we felt that the claimants deserved to know that they won," he said.
However, winners have no way of collecting their awards until the Illinois General Assembly approves each individual payment. Some lawmakers have tried to make good on the state’s debts. But for more than a year, the efforts have either failed to pass or were vetoed by Governor Bruce Rauner.
