Adrienne Hurst

Sheriff Tom Dart has been a leading voice pushing for bail reform in Cook County, seeking to free more suspects who await trial behind bars on nonviolent charges. But a lawsuit challenging the system pits Dart against other advocates of change.

In October, Cook County bond court judges and the sheriff were sued on behalf of arrestees who challenged the constitutional basis of deciding who remains locked up before trial based on their ability to raise cash. Now, the judges and the sheriff are contending the case should be thrown out of court.