California top court strikes blow against cash bail

Unanimous decision hailed by progressives as a victory for economic and racial justice in the United States.

San Francisco, California, United States — The top court in California last week issued a ruling that advocates for criminal justice reform in the United States are calling a “landmark victory” for efforts to confront racial and economic inequities. In a unanimous March 25 decision, the California Supreme Court said courts cannot require individuals charged with a crime to pay cash bail as a condition of release before trial unless they consider the person’s ability to pay. “No person should lose the right to liberty simply because that person can’t afford to post bail,” the court found. “The common practice of conditioning freedom solely on whether an arrestee can afford bail is unconstitutional.”