South Dakota lawmakers shoot down Supreme Court's push for pre-trial authority
House Republicans kill Unified Judicial System partnership with Chicago-based MacArthur Foundation; legislators cite worries over cashless bail
PIERRE — South Dakota lawmakers are at odds with the state’s top judge over a criminal justice initiative touted as a taxpayer cost-savings that’ll keep more out of jail.
A one-vote loss in the South Dakota House on Monday halted House Bill 1015, a proposal championed by South Dakota Supreme Court Justice Steven Jensen that failed to overcome worries of weakened public safety and suspicions that it could lead to criminals being let out of jail prematurely.
