Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx Issues Statement on the Illinois Supreme Court’s Decision to Uphold the Historic Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act

“After two years of advocacy and partnership with organizations across the State, despite numerous misinformation campaigns and many other legal challenges, today, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled the Pretrial Fairness Act fully constitutional. Today’s ruling ends the cash bail system, replacing that system with a detention process based on community safety and not on the financial fitness of defendants.  Congratulations to every stakeholder who helped make this happen.

Today’s ruling is a monumental milestone toward achieving equal justice for all in Cook County and Illinois. It is our responsibility to address the historic inequities in our justice system. Everyone deserves a fair shot at justice, regardless of their zip code, paycheck, or the color of their skin. Ending cash bail is in line with our values and is a critical step toward economic and racial justice in Cook County and Illinois, which is why I have supported and advocated for its end from the beginning.

I will continue to support our court stakeholders as they prepare to implement the end of the cash bond.”  

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) is the nation’s second-largest prosecutor’s office and is led by Cook County’s first Black woman State’s Attorney, Kim Foxx. Foxx brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Cook County, no matter their race, income, or zip code. Foxx has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to intercept the cycles of violence and crime and bringing change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow @SAKimFoxx on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook and @CookCountySAO on Twitter and Facebook.