Rockford Sun

More than four dozen lawsuits challenging the legality of Illinois' comprehensive police and bail reform law called the SAFE-T Act have been joined together by the state's high court.

Sen. Dan Syverson (R-Cherry Valley) wrote about the variety of topics in a Nov. 4 Facebook post, including the latest legal move against the SAFE-T Act.

"Fifty-eight lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the SAFE-T Act were officially combined into one comprehensive suit during the week, while yet another report ranks Illinois toward the bottom of the list of tax-friendly states," Syverson wrote in the post. 

In his week in review, Syverson further commented on the lawsuits against the SAFE-T Act. 

"The number of state’s attorneys who have challenged the SAFE-T Act is further proof that the new law is not ready for statewide implementation. While there is talk of a fourth trailer bill to the SAFE-T Act, no legislation has been read into the record," Syverson said.

On Oct. 31, the Illinois Supreme Court consolidated the lawsuits into a single case, Syverson noted in his week in review. Jo Daviess and Knox Counties' lawsuits are included in the consolidated case. The initial lawsuit was filed in Kankakee County. 

Last month, The Center Square reported that Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) acknowledged there are changes coming to the SAFE-T Act. 

“What we’re aiming at here is keeping murderers and rapists and domestic abusers in jail and not keeping people who can’t afford bail for a non-violent offense... not putting them in jail, but allowing them to get out of jail,” Pritzker told reporters at an unrelated news event.