OAKLAND, Calif. — During a disposition and setting hearing Friday involving felony charges, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Thomas Reardon denied the defense’s request for an excused appearance, requiring the accused to continue taking unpaid time off work and potentially putting his employment at risk.
The accused faces multiple felony charges, including possession of a firearm, assault with a firearm, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, shooting at an inhabited dwelling or vehicle, reckless evasion of a police officer and possession of cocaine for sale.
Defense Attorney Morgan Alexis Janssen requested that the accused be granted an excused court appearance for an upcoming hearing, explaining that the accused is currently employed while out on bail. Janssen detailed that requiring the accused to attend continued proceedings forces him to take time off work.
Emphasizing that the defense anticipates a series of upcoming court dates due to the aforementioned felony charges — including a hearing next week — Janssen reasoned that repeated mandatory court appearances would create financial hardship and endanger the accused’s job security.
The conflict reflects a documented strain in criminal court procedure analyzed in The Legal Process and the Promise of Justice. Scholars note that the majority of court work occurs during pretrial processes, where defendants frequently incur “costs of loss of pay, inconvenience and attorneys’ fees.”
Much like in the case of the accused, administrative burdens create financial hardship as individuals lose employment, turning the procedural process itself into a form of punishment.
While California’s pretrial guidelines encourage defendants on bail to maintain employment, uncompromising attendance requirements can penalize working-class defendants through job termination or suspension.
Judge Reardon took a few moments before refusing to grant the defense’s request.
“I cannot excuse [him] indefinitely,” Judge Reardon stated.
With the court’s denial of the request for an excused appearance, the accused remains obligated to attend all future court proceedings while balancing his employment and financial status, causing an uptick in unpaid absences as his case moves forward.
To comment please go to one of these social media platforms:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavisVanguard
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peoples-vanguard-of-davis-inc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davisvanguard/
X: https://x.com/davisvanguard
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/vanguardnewsgroup.bsky.social
Subscribe to the Vanguard News letters. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit davisvanguard.org/donate or give directly through ActBlue. Your support will ensure that the vital work of the Vanguard continues.
Categories: Alameda Court Watch Breaking News Court Watch Northern California Court Watch Vanguard Court Watch Tags: Alameda County Superior Court Court Watch Criminal Justice employment Financial Hardship pretrial proceedings