PHOENIX (AP) - The Latest on an Arizona court ruling (all times local):
11:45 a.m.
The Arizona Supreme Court says it’s unconstitutional to categorically deny bail for defendants charged with sexual conduct with a minor under age 15 without court findings that they’re dangerous to somebody else or the community.
Five justices’ unanimous ruling Thursday strikes down part of a law approved by voters in 2002 along with a related change to the Arizona Constitution.
The 2002 law permits defendants charged with certain sex crimes to be denied bail if there’s enough evidence to presume they are guilty.
The ruling says some crimes inherently demonstrate future dangerousness and that while sexual conduct with a minor is always a serious crime, committing that offense doesn’t always indicate a threat of future dangerousness.
The ruling says defendants still can be held without bail if there are court findings that they’re a threat.
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2:45 a.m.
The Arizona Supreme Court plans Thursday to rule on the constitutionality of voter-approved laws generally prohibiting release on bail of defendants charged with certain sex crimes.
Appeals center on whether the laws approved by voters in 2002 violate the U.S. Constitution’s due process protections.
The state Court of Appeals ruled that the laws are unconstitutional because they don’t require consideration of whether any release conditions would protect victims and the community.
The appeals court ruled that it’s not enough that laws require judges to consider whether there’s enough evidence to presume defendants are guilty.
Crimes covered by the 2002 laws prohibiting bail include sexual assault, sexual conduct with a minor under 15 and molestation of a child under 15.
Arizona also has no-bail laws in first-degree murder cases.
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