Supreme Court appeal on SAFE-T Act may have impact on civil justice, too

For the Defense

By Donald P. Eckler

Donald “Pat” Eckler is a partner at Freeman, Mathis, & Gary LLP, focusing on professional liability defense, insurance coverage litigation, and general tort defense. He is the legislative chair of Illinois Defense Counsel. Eckler also is the co-host of the Podium and Panel podcast with Daniel Cotter. His views are his own and not those of his firm or its clients.

Posted January 4, 2023 11:11 AM

The focus on the order from Chief Judge Thomas W. Cunnington of the 21st Judicial Circuit, Kankakee County, striking down portions of the SAFE-T Act as unconstitutional is on the impact such a ruling will have on the criminal justice system — and how the Illinois Supreme Court will address the issues now that it has stayed the effective date of the act and ordered briefing on the issues under its supervisory authority.However, the high court’s decision may impact the civil justice system, too, and a large number of …

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