Illinois appellate courts struggle with Pretrial Fairness Act impact, unprecedented number of appeals
Following the elimination of cash bail, Illinois finds itself in a legal frenzy as appellate courts witness a “dramatic increase” in appeals. These appeals, stemming from individuals challenging detention orders or the imposition of conditions like electronic monitoring, have prompted the Illinois Supreme Court to take decisive action.
In response to the surge, the court declared the formation of a task force comprised of appellate court justices tasked with scrutinizing the matter. The inaugural meeting of this task force is scheduled within the next two weeks, with an anticipated report to be presented to the Supreme Court within 45 days.
The catalyst for this spike in appeals is the Pretrial Fairness Act, implemented in September, granting individuals the right to appeal a judge’s decision regarding their custody or release conditions. Under this act, the appeals court is obligated to deliver a ruling within 14 days upon receiving all filings in a case.