Illinois Supreme Court paves the way for historic end to cash bail

Illinois is set to become the first state in the US to eliminate cash bail after the state Supreme Court ruled that a criminal justice reform law did not violate the state's constitution. The ruling comes after legal challenges halted the Pretrial Fairness Act, which was set to go into effect in January. The court's 5-2 ruling stated that the state's constitution does not mandate monetary bail as the only means to ensure defendants' appearance in court or protect the public. The decision has been praised by advocates for addressing inequalities in the criminal justice system, while opponents argue it puts public safety at risk.