Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Elimination of Cash Bail in Landmark Ruling

The Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that the provision of the SAFE-T Act ending cash bail is constitutional, paving the way for Illinois to become the first state in the nation to eliminate cash bail. The 5-to-2 vote comes after legal challenges were filed against the provision, which had been halted by the state Supreme Court itself. The Pre-Trial Fairness Act, as part of the SAFE-T Act, was the most controversial aspect, with opponents arguing that it violated the constitution while supporters claimed it would address the issue of people being incarcerated simply because they couldn't afford bail. The bail rules will go into effect on September 18, 2023.