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Judge Stevens warns that GR 37 and bail-elimination proposals risk reduced accountability
Summary
Judge David Stevens criticized GR 37's jury-selection effects and warned that proposals to eliminate cash bail could lead to more failures to appear, bench warrants and diminished accountability, drawing on his courtroom experience.
Judge David Stevens raised procedural concerns at a televised forum, identifying a court rule he called 'GR 37' and arguing it constrains the ability to remove jurors who show bias or distrust of law enforcement. "They specifically put in the rules, no. You can't be kicked off the jury for that," he said, describing the rule as changing jury-screening standards.
Stevens also warned that proposals to eliminate the cash-bail system could undermine attendance at court hearings and accountability. "Can you imagine what's gonna happen when they get rid of our bail system?... See, what happens is you don't show up for your court hearing, and then the judge, me, I'm gonna issue a bench warrant," he said, describing a scenario in which judges ultimately reincorporate bail to secure appearance. He used those concerns to argue for electing justices who will consider public-safety implications of procedural changes.
