A Kankakee County judge is declaring that a key provision of Illinois’ sweeping criminal justice reform law violates the state constitution. Circuit Judge Thomas Cunnington ruled Wednesday that the portion of the state’s controversial SAFE-T Act that ends cash bail is unconstitutional. Mercer County was among 65 counties that were a party to the lawsuit.
The ruling comes just days before cash bail was set to be abolished in Illinois on January 1st.
Here’s reaction from Mercer County State’s Attorney Grace Simpson, speaking to WRMJ Thursday morning.
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said he is planning to appeal the judge’s ruling directly to the Illinois Supreme Court.