Illinois judge rules cash bail portion of ‘Safe-T Act’ unconstitutional

Ill. (KWQC) - A county circuit judge in Illinois has ruled the pre-trial release portion of the “Safe-T Act” unconstitutional.

The ruling from Kankakee County Circuit Court Judge Thomas W. Cunnington says the provision does not apply to the counties in the lawsuit, including some in the Quad City area.

In separate media releases, both Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Governor J.B. Pritzker both said they will appeal the ruling. The court’s ruling also does not apply to the entirety of the Safe-T Act, and only the pre-trial release, which would effectively end cash bail, for the 65 counties who filed suit against the law.

Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy S. Karling was one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Karling said he supports bail reform but the Re-trail Fairness Act and the way it was enacted left too many questions surrounding the constitution.

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