Cash Bail Remains in Place in Illinois Pending Appeal to State Supreme Court

The Illinois Supreme Court Saturday evening issued a stay on the elimination of cash bail in the state. The decision was made, according to a statement from the Court, to "maintain consistent pretrial procedures throughout Illinois."

The remaining provisions of the SAFE-T Act that hadn't taken effect sooner were implemented Sunday.

Had the stay not been issued, cash bail would have been eliminated in some counties and been in place in other counties where the state's attorneys were part of a lawsuit opposing the elimination of cash bail.

The question of cash bail being eliminated will be argued soon before the State Supreme Court. A circuit judge in Kankakee County ruled in favor of maintaining cash bail in more than 60 Illinois counties where the state's attorneys filed suit. The elimination of cash bail, under the judge's decision, was to end Sunday in the counties that were not part of the suit.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Governor J.B. Pritzker, Senate President Don Harmon and House Speaker Chris Welch are arguing for the end of cash bail and are parties in the suit to be heard by the state Supreme Court.

Effingham and the surrounding counties are a part of the suit opposing elimination of cash bail.