Williams v. Illinois

This appeal from Illinois presents an important question involving a claim of discriminatory treatment based upon financial inability to pay a fine and court costs imposed in a criminal case. The narrow issue raised is whether an indigent may be continued in confinement beyond the maximum term specified by statute because of his failure to satisfy the monetary provisions of the sentence. We noted probable jurisdiction1 and set the case for oral argument with No. 782, Morris v. Schoonfield, post, p. 508, also decided today.

On August 16, 1967, appellant was convicted of petty theft and received…