CHICAGO — State Senator Robert Peters released the following statement in response to Kankakee County Circuit Court Judge Thomas W. Cunnington’s opinion on the pretrial release portions of the SAFE-T Act:
“Kankakee County Circuit Judge Thomas W. Cunnington issued his opinion on pretrial fairness, ruling that it was “unconstitutional.”
“I stand beside the decision to appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court, as so many of us have worked so hard for equity in the criminal justice system and will continue the fight for pretrial justice.
“When you make systemic, civil rights level changes, there are bound to be people who will do whatever to stop it. We’ve seen this before from the Voting Rights Act to Obamacare, and even the Governor's COVID-19 mitigations.
“We have fought to ensure that all Illinoisans are treated fairly in the criminal justice system and able to exercise their rights under the SAFE-T Act and the Illinois Constitution.
“The fight continues.
“Remember, you can always find facts at HB3653.org.”
