What happens to bail once a defendant is committed to await judgment upon a rendered verdict?

Once a defendant is committed to await judgment after a verdict is rendered, bail is considered exonerated. This means that the obligation of the defendant to maintain the bail bond is lifted, as the purpose of the bail—to ensure the defendant's presence at trial—has been fulfilled with the verdict being delivered. Exoneration of bail occurs when a case is resolved, whether through a guilty or not guilty verdict, thereby terminating the conditions under which bail was posted.

In contrast, discharge of bail generally refers to circumstances where it's seen as no longer necessary, which can happen in different scenarios but does not directly connect to the stage of awaiting judgment after a verdict. Continuation of bail may imply that the bail remains in effect for pending matters, typically before a verdict is reached, or during appeals, but this is not the case once the verdict is rendered. Forfeiture of bail usually applies when a defendant fails to appear as required, resulting in the bond being lost. Thus, exoneration accurately reflects the legal status of bail once a verdict has been rendered.