Filing a Judicial Complaint with De-Bug San Mateo Participatory Defense Core

Today, we talk with De-Bug’s San Mateo Participatory Defense core who has been observing arraignment court for the past 3 years and just filed a Judicial Complaint based on people's rights not being protected under the Humphrey ruling. 

On March 25, 2021, the California Supreme Court upheld the Humphrey decision, ruling that people cannot be held pre-trial due to their inability to pay. It declared the money bail system as unconstitutional and violated people’s rights. Instead, judges must consider someone’s ability to pay money bail as well as other least restrictive means that can ensure that balances public safety and the person coming back to court. In San Mateo County, judges will rarely ask or consider ability to pay on a case. 

In today's discussion, San Mateo organizers talk about why they filed the Judicial Complaint, what they have witnessed while observing arraignment court and the impact the money bail system has on low-income people.