News Roundup

A second mass shooting in the span of a week, this one killing 10 people at a Colorado grocery store, shook the nation on Monday.  Those killed included the first responding police officer, Eric Tally, a father of seven.  The apparent shooter, 21-year-old Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, was taken into custody after being shot by police and has been charged wih murder.  News reports indicate that Alissa was wearing a tactical vest and was armed with an assault style rifle that he bought last week.  Keep reading for more news. California Bail.  The Los Angeles Times reports that the California Supreme Court ruled this week that it is unconstitutional to hold an arrestee in pretrial detention because of his or her inability to pay money bail.  Under the court’s decision, which is available at the LA Times link, a person may not be held in pretrial detention unless the trial court makes a finding that he or she can afford to pay bail but nevertheless has failed to do so or that there is clear and convincing evidence that detention Is necessary to protect victim or public safety or assure the person’s appearance in court. Juvenile Jurisdiction.  WRAL reports that the North Carolina Senate passed legislation this week that would raise the minimum age of jurisdiction for juvenile delinquency proceedings from 6 years old to 10 years old.  Under the current version of the bill, which makes several other changes to Chapter 7B, complaints against children ages 6-9 alleging delinquent offenses [...]