LA Cash Bail Restricted by Judge During Court Challenge
- State judge issues preliminary injunction during litigation
- Judge says city officials declined to testify at hearing
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The cash bail system in Los Angeles was curtailed by a state judge who issued a preliminary injunction that will allow most people charged with low-level crimes to be released without having to post bail.
Superior Court Judge Lawrence Riff on Tuesday ordered Los Angeles officials to drop the current system and abide by an emergency bail schedule that was put in place in October 2020 during the Covid pandemic, beginning May 24. Under that practice, as a general rule, no bail is required for all infractions, misdemeanors and felonies, with a number of exceptions for crimes such as domestic violence, violent felonies and any theft with a loss of more than $100,000.