Southwest Legal Banning

SUPREME COURT RULES UNANIMOUS VERDICTS REQUIRED IN ALL CRIMINAL CASES The United States Supreme Court ruled Monday, April 20, 2020, that state court juries must be unanimous to convict defendants in criminal trials. The decision overturned a Louisiana second-degree murder conviction of Evangelisto Ramos. The 10-2 verdict resulted in a life sentence when a jury found him guilty. The Court pointed out that 48 states and, more importantly, federal courts already required unani...Continue reading

The California Judicial Council, in an emergency meeting Monday, set bail for all misdemeanors and low-level felonies at zero dollars because of the dangers posed by the coronavirus in crowded jails. The council, which is the policymaker for the state’s Superior Court system, decided violent crimes would not be eligible for the temporary bail reduction, which takes effect no later than 5 p.m. Monday. The bail measure was one of 11 emergency orders issued by the council Mond...ay as the state staggers under the global COVID-19 pandemic. The rules, which take effect immediately, also allow local courts to set up remote hearings via teleconference technology and for counsel to appear on behalf of defendants in pretrial proceedings. The council also adopted rules to prioritize juvenile proceedings and extend the statute of limitations for civil actions. These Judicial Council rules are designed to protect the public, court staff, and law enforcement by limiting the number of people in courtrooms and jails.