The Illinois Supreme Court issued a stay Saturday halting provisions of a new law that would eliminate cash bail for criminal defendants, The Associated Press reports. The stay was issued hours before the new policies were set to take effect on Sunday, and follow a ruling by a county circuit judge last Wednesday that the provision violated the constitution’s separation of powers clause.
The high court ordered the temporary stay to “maintain consistent pretrial procedures throughout Illinois,” while it prepares to consider arguments on the issue. While Democrats who control the Illinois General Assembly have pushed for eliminating cash bond, prosecutors and sheriffs from 64 Illinois counties filed a lawsuit challenging the bail provision.