What is the test for a Commissioner of Justice to make a declaration of forfeiture under section 1305 of the California Penal Code?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from County of Los Angeles v. International Fidelity Insurance Company, B205120 (Cal. App. 1/30/2009), B205120 (Cal. App. 2009):

In relevant part, Penal Code section 1305 (hereafter section 1305), subdivision (a), provides that when a defendant fails to appear at arraignment, "[a] court shall in open court declare forfeited the undertaking of bail . . . if, without sufficient excuse, a defendant fails to appear." The statutory reference requiring action by a "court . . . in open court" means that the declaration of forfeiture is not a mere ministerial act to be performed by a court clerk, but rather a judicial act to be performed by a judge. (See People v. Frontier Pacific Ins. Co. (2000) 83 Cal.App.4th 1289, 1294-1295 [Pen. Code, 1306, subd. (a), authorizing summary judgment on the bond by "the court which has declared the forfeiture," requires at a minimum that summary judgment be signed by a judge].) But the fact that the declaration of forfeiture is a judicial act does not mean that it cannot be done by a commissioner.

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