Simmons v. Superior Court

Opinion

BENSON, J.

Petitioner, Betty Baxter Simmons, seeks a writ of mandate requiring respondent superior court to set aside its order denying her petition for a writ of mandate and directing it to issue a writ of mandate ordering the municipal court to permit persons charged with misdemeanors and released upon a promise to appear to thereafter appear through counsel, rather than in person, unless the circumstances of an individual case justify ordering an accused to appear in person.

The factual background giving rise to the petition herein is undisputed. Simmons was cited on April 25, 1987,…