Notwithstanding Sections 85, 580, 904.1, and 904.2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the following rules apply to an appeal from an order of the superior court on a motion to vacate a bail forfeiture declared under Section 1305:

(a) If the amount in controversy exceeds thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000), the appeal is to the court of appeal and shall be treated as an unlimited civil case.

Terms Used In California Penal Code 1305.5

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appellate: About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgement of another lower court or tribunal.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • magistrate: signifies any one of the officers mentioned in Section 808. See California Penal Code 7

(b) Except as provided in subdivision (c), if the amount in controversy does not exceed thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000), the appeal is to the appellate division of the superior court and shall be treated as a limited civil case.

(c) If the bail forfeiture was in a felony case, or in a case in which both a felony and a misdemeanor were charged, and the forfeiture occurred at or after the sentencing hearing or after the indictment or the legal commitment by a magistrate, the appeal is to the court of appeal and shall be treated as an unlimited civil case.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 861, Sec. 14. (SB 71) Effective January 1, 2024.)

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