EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state Supreme Court this month unanimously rejected the notion that a man who skipped his court date could be presented as evidence that he felt guilty about the original crime. The Daily Herald reported that state Supreme Court justices agreed that criminalizing a single missed court date could disproportionately harm people of color or people without reliable transportation or scheduling conflicts. The ruling came less than a year after the state Legislature revised the bail jumping law, which gives people more time to respond to a warrant. The case must now return to Snohomish County, where prosecutors can decide whether to try the case again.
Ruling: Missed court date in Washington does not imply guilt
