SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (WCIA) — Attorney General Kwame Raul has appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court, defending portions of the SAFE-T Act that a Kankakee County judge previously ruled unconstitutional.
The Attorney General filed it in court on Thursday, arguing that cash bail was not included in the Constitution. does not imply cash bail. This is the state’s first discussion in a case expected to last at least a few more months.
“The term ‘bail’ more generally refers to pretrial release, granted on terms designed to ensure the defendant’s appearance at future court appearances,” the appeal reads. In addition, monetary bail was largely unknown at the time the 1818 Constitution was drafted.”
The court agreed to hear oral arguments from both sides in March. State attorneys previously agreed to submit a brief response by February 17.