Criminal,
California Supreme Court
Mar. 26, 2021
Judges must consider means in setting bail, California Supreme Court rules
In the 29-page opinion, Supreme Court Justice Mariano Cuellar wrote that California’s current bail system, which conditions “freedom solely on whether an arrestee can afford bail,” is unconstitutional.
In a significant victory for advocates of changes in the bail system, the California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that judges must consider a defendant's ability to pay when setting bail in criminal cases and said indigent suspects should not be detained awaiting trial unless non-monetary release conditions can't ensure public safety.
The high court's unanimous decision, written by Justice $95
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