pleading, and it need not contain more than a cursory statement of the facts.People v. Smith, 259 Ill. App. 3d at 497. However, it must state some facts.If the charging instrument meets the minimum requirements of section 111--3(a) but(combined with any discovery the State furnishes) is insufficient to allow thedefendant to prepare a defense, he or she can--and should--seek a bill ofparticulars. Smith, 259 Ill. App. 3d at 498; People v. Intercoastal Realty, Inc.,148 Ill. App. 3d 964, 971 (1986). An indictment need not state the exact meansused in committing a charged offense if that means is not an integral part of theoffense. Grieco, 255 N.E.2d 899; SEE People v. Brogan, 816 N.E.2d 643, 654(Ill.App.1st, 2004) (defendant's argument that the indictment failed to apprisehim of the details of how the overt act was carried out failed because theargument focused on the nature of the proof rather than the nature of theoffense.) However, if the means is an integral part of the offense, the indictmentneeds to state these means.When the language of a statute does not articulate a specific offense, theindictment must articulate a specific overt act. People v. Potter, 125 N.E.2d 510(Ill. 1995) In Potter, the defendant was charged with reckless driving. Theindictment specifically stated that the defendant drove recklessly by speeding.The defendant was therefore not left to question whether the reckless conduct wasrunning a red light, driving at night without his lights on, or one of a myriad ofother possibly dangerous driving manners. However, there are numerous cases wherethe reviewing courts ruled that the indictment did not articulate a specific overtact , and therefore, these indictments were fatally defective.This case is another example of a legally insufficient and therefore voidindictment. Therefore, the case was not properly before the trial court and thecourt had no jurisdiction.SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OF THE COURTA Judge may not claim jurisdiction by fiat. All orders or judgments issuedby a judge in a court of limited jurisdiction must contain the findings of thecourt showing that the court has subject-matter jurisdiction, not allegations thatthe court has jurisdiction. “. . . in a special statutory proceeding an order mustcontain the jurisdictional findings prescribed by statute.” In re Jennings, 68Ill.2d 125, 368 N.E.2d 864 (1977) A judge’s allegation that he has subject-matterjurisdiction is only an allegation. Lombard v. Elmore, 134 Ill.App.3d 898, 480N.E.2d 1329 (1st Dist. 1985), Hill v. Daily, 28 Ill.App.3d 202, 204, 328 N.E.2d142 (1975). Inspection of the record of the case is the controlling factor. If therecord of the case does not support subject-matter jurisdiction, then the judgehas acted without subject-matter jurisdiction. “If it could not legally hear thematter upon the jurisdictional paper presented, its finding that it had the powercan add nothing to its authority, - it had no authority to make that finding.” ThePeople v. Brewer, 328 Ill. 472, 483 (1928) Without the specific finding ofjurisdiction by the court in an order or judgment, the order or judgment does notcomply with the law and is void. The finding can not be merely an unsupportedallegation.The law is well-settled that a void order or judgment is void even beforereversal. “Courts are constituted by authority and they cannot go beyond thatpower delegated to them. If they act beyond that authority, and certainly incontravention of it, their judgments and orders are regarded as nullities. Theyare not voidable, but simply void, and this even prior to reversal.” Vallely v.Northern Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 254 U.S. 348, 41 S.Ct. 116 (1920)A court has no jurisdiction where the public policy of the State of Illinoisis violated [a crime must be alleged and state ALL the elements of the offense forthe complaint to be valid], People v. Meyers, 158 Ill.2d 46, 51 (1994); Martin-Tregona v. Roderick, 29 Ill.App.3d 553, 331 N.E.2d 100 (1st Dist. 1975).Courts may not attempt to resolve controversies which are not properlypresented to them for, if they should do so, it would violate not only theprecepts of Constitutional due process, but would fly in the face of the American
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