Other State's Attorneys Joining w/Jones in Opposing SAFE-T Act

The lawsuit filed Friday by Effingham County State's Attorney Aaron Jones regarding the legislation known as the SAFE-T Act is being supported by prosecutors across the state.

Jones Monday said 18 Illinois counties have filed similar actions, and said more counties are expected to file this week.

Jones said he is also considering whether to file a request for a Temporary Restraining Order against implementation of the legislation. He said he's talking with other State's Attorneys on the issue.

Jones said the thought is that all of the cases on the issue being filed across the state will be consolidated in Sangamon County, where Springfield, the seat of state government, is located.

If the request for a temporary restraining order is not filed, the defendants in the case have 30 days from when they're served to respond. The named defendants in Jones' suit are Governor J.B. Pritzker, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon.

Jones' suit, and the others filed elsewhere in Illinois, seek injunctive relief on the basis that the SAFE-T Act violates the state constitution. The alleged violations include the elimination of cash bond, single-subject rule, the separation of powers, the three readings requirement, and that the measure is unconstitutionally vague.

Jones argues that the measure also strips the judiciary of its ability to balance the rights of the accused to be free on bail against the rights of the public to receive reasonable, protective consideration by the courts. He said, "The plain language of the new law, as it currently reads, poses a real danger to the community."