Tomorrow morning, the Supreme Court will file its opinions in People v. Financial Casualty & Surety, Inc. and People v. Melendez, which were both argued on the October calendar.

The Financial Casualty case raises these issues:  (1) Should the good cause standard under Penal Code section 1305.4 for extension of the period to exonerate bail require a demonstration of a reasonable likelihood of success of returning a fugitive?  (2) When a court finds there has been a diligent investigation to locate a fugitive, does the burden shift under Penal Code section 1305.4 to the People to prove that there is not a reasonable likelihood of success of returning the fugitive?  (3) Does an extension of the period to exonerate bail under Penal Code section 1305.4 commence on the date on which the initial 180-day period expires or on the date on which the trial court grants the extension?

Melendez is an automatic appeal from an August 2003 death penalty judgment.

The opinions can be viewed tomorrow starting at 10:00 a.m.