The judges in Illinois’ fifth judicial circuit are speaking out against proposed judicial reform laws.
Vermilion County resident judge Tom O’Shaughnessy spoke at Tuesday night’s county board meeting. He said the fifth circuit judges disapprove of proposed changes to cash bail as well as the Trust Act, a 2017 law that limits cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
O’Shaughnessy said the bail reform law would require more probation services from county courts and could result in defendants not showing up to court. He also said the state should provide more funding on its end for additional mandates.
{“Bail reform without proper funding reduces the number of incarcerations at pretrial, but fails to ensure that defendants are offered and comply with appropriate release programs and conditions.”}
The judge said the limit on cooperation with federal immigration authorities reverses decades of policy between the two entities. He called the policy a political mandate that would turn state courts into so-called sanctuary cities while violating federal law.
