California Supreme Court Upholds Bail Rights in $7 Cheeseburger Case

The California Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a homeless man's six-month detention for a $7 cheeseburger theft violated his constitutional right to affordable bail. - Kenneth Kowalczyk, with over 60 convictions, was arrested for using stolen credit cards to buy a cheeseburger.

- He was held on $75,000 bail, which he could not afford, spending six months in jail. - The court found that existing law allows judges to detain dangerous defendants but not set unattainable bail for non-violent offenses.

- Justices urged the governor or Legislature to reform the bail system. The decision does not end cash bail for indigent defendants.