One more detail here. I've seen ppl outraged at the DA over this bond. That... may not be the case here.
PA rules vary by county, but believe this is a county where the initial bail decision can be made by the arresting officer and the judge... alone.
No DA. No def lawyer.
PA rules vary by county, but believe this is a county where the initial bail decision can be made by the arresting officer and the judge... alone.
No DA. No def lawyer.
It's a crazy rule. The cop and the judge (all too often likely a former DA) get to set the initial bail with no lawyers present.
There eventually has to be a hearing with lawyers, but believe that can be up to two weeks later.
Two weeks in jail. That's big.
There eventually has to be a hearing with lawyers, but believe that can be up to two weeks later.
Two weeks in jail. That's big.
Imagine a county where the DA doesn't want to prosecute minor stuff anymore, but the police and former-ADAs-turned-judges do.
They can effectively create two-week sentences for offenses that consistently get dropped by the DA.
That could be all they wanted in the first place!
They can effectively create two-week sentences for offenses that consistently get dropped by the DA.
That could be all they wanted in the first place!
Anyway, another good reminder of how often small technical legalistic rules (here, who is present at the first bail hearing, how do we select our judges) can be the drivers of deep injustices--drivers that persist BECAUSE they are so boring and technocratic.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
