Once more, with conviction: Focusing criminal justice reform on evidence rules

Criminal Law

By Hugh Mundy and Erica Fatima

Hugh Mundy is an associate professor at UIC John Marshall Law School. His teaching and scholarship focus on criminal justice reform. Erica Fatima is a second-year student at UIC John Marshall Law School. She has earned national recognition for her achievements in mock trial competitions and is an inaugural recipient of a research assistance grant from the law school’s Antiracism and Social Justice Fund.

Posted February 11, 2021 11:37 AM

Illinois is in the midst of sweeping criminal justice reform, as highlighted by the General Assembly’s recent passage of legislation to bolster police accountability and to abolish pre-trial release practices predicated on an arrestee’s ability to post bond. In endorsing the bill, Gov. J.B. Pritzker reaffirmed his commitment to “ending cash bail and modernizing sentencing laws a legislative priority.” While Pritzker’s support of the groundbreaking bill is commendable, his endorsement exposes a significant gap in its focal …

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