By Illinois Radio Network

SPRINGFIELD – An Illinois court case that could bring about a national right-to-work law may be heard by the Supreme Court.

Following President Trump’s nomination of U.S. Circuit Court Judge Neil Gorsuch to be the next associate justice to the Supreme Court, National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix said Illinois’ Janus v. AFSCME case will indeed get heard by the high court.

“We are just basically one step away from having the (U.S.) Supreme Court agree that compulsory union dues or fees in the government sector are a violation of First Amendment speech rights,” said Mix. “If that’s the case, then what we get is a right-to-work law for every government employee in America.”

Mix said the Janus v. AFSCME case is currently in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. He explained even if it is shot down by the Court of Appeals, it could still see life in the Supreme Court.

“It will be argued on March 1st in Illinois and we expect we will lose that case in front of the three judge court of appeals and then that case would be ripe to petition the United States Supreme Court to hear this case,” Mix said.

That could happen in October. A decision could come by summer of 2018.

Gorsuch must still be approved by the U.S. Senate.