California Courts of Appeal,
Criminal
Jan. 10, 2019
Panel: Court fees for the indigent are unconstitutional
In a huge win for indigent defendants caught in the revolving cycle of poverty and court fees, a panel of state appellate judges reversed a superior court judge’s order to impose fees on a homeless woman, saying using the criminal justice system to collect a fine she could not pay is unconstitutional.
In a huge win for indigent defendants caught in the revolving cycle of poverty and court fees, a panel of state appellate judges reversed a superior court judge's order to impose fees on a homeless woman, saying using the criminal justice system to collect a fine she could not pay is unconstitutional.
The unanimous 2nd District Court of Appeal panel also invited the Legislature to consider changes to the statutes.
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