In County of Los Angeles v. Financial Casualty & Surety Inc., the Supreme Court today holds that bail can be forfeited when a defendant fails to appear in court on a date stated by a jailer on a bail bond even if the court has not required an appearance on that date. The court’s unanimous opinion by Justice Ming Chin construes various statutes regarding bail and required appearances.
The court reverses the Second District, Division Four, Court of Appeal. It also disapproves a 2012 Fifth District opinion and a 1977 Los Angeles County Superior Court Appellate Department opinion.
