People v. Fin. Cas. & Sur., Inc.

MOORE, ACTING P. J.

*1185A surety posted a $50,000 bail bond for a misdemeanor defendant. Throughout the case, defendant's attorney appeared on his behalf: "In all cases in which the accused is charged with a misdemeanor *1186only, he or she may appear by counsel only ...." ( Pen. Code, § 977, subd. (a)(1).)1 The trial court granted defendant probation, continued several probation violation hearings, and eventually ordered defendant to personally appear. When defendant failed to appear, the court ordered the bond forfeited.

On appeal, the surety argues that section 977 does not allow attorneys to appear…