Judge temporarily blocks Georgia law that limits people or groups to posting 3 bonds a year

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked part of a Georgia law that restricts organizations from helping people pay bail so they can be released while their criminal cases are pending.

U.S. District Judge Victoria Marie Calvert blocked part of Senate Bill 63 from taking effect on Monday after a hearing in Atlanta. The judge is stalling the law for 14 days and directing lawyers to present arguments on whether it should be stayed until a lawsuit over the measure is resolved.

The blocked section limits people and organizations from posting more than three cash bonds in a year unless they meet requirements for bail bond companies. That means passing background checks, paying fees, holding a business license, securing the local sheriff’s approval and establishing a cash escrow account or other form of collateral.

Calvert is letting other parts of the law that require cash bail before people charged with 30 additional crimes can be released from pretrial detention. That list includes 18 offenses that are always or often misdemeanors, including failure to appear in court for a traffic citation.

-snip-

BY JEFF AMY
Updated 8:08 PM EDT, June 28, 2024


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/georgia-cash-bail-funds-jail-lawsuit-aclu-ff3b5dcf62ba94b7546f4fbed24d7ac8

[reACTIONary]

1. The motivation for this law...

The measure comes amid conservative efforts to restrict community bail funds, which were used to post bond for people involved in 2020 protests against racial injustice and, more recently, to protesters opposed to a public safety training center being built near Atlanta. State prosecutors have noted that some “Stop Cop City” protesters had the Atlanta Solidarity Fund’s phone number written on their bodies, which they allege was evidence they intended to do something that could get them arrested.

[machoneman]

2. Yah know, I read this post yesterday and now find it odd no one replied. Here's my take.

Those damned R's will stop at nothing to hurt the poor, keep slamming those they don't like in jail and upset decades of precedent in getting bonds. I'm not surprised considering all the other shit they pull to prevent voting, pull legitimate voter registrations and more.

Good God, they must be stopped everywhere and over everything they do! VOTE!

[prodigitalson]

3. this could be problematic for america's mayor

[Grins]

4. Need a church group that supports the jailed to file suit

Argue that their “sincere and profoundly held religious beliefs” commands them to do “corporeal works of mercy,” and help the imprisoned.

The Jesus himself said you gotta’ do it.