TEXAS - Texas civil rights groups and the bail industry are both claiming victory after a federal appeal's court handed down its decision this week in a contentious case over bail bonds.

The ruling is sending shockwaves through the Texas justice system, and could give a window into further changes to come.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's ruling that Harris County discriminated against poor people accused of crimes by holding them in jail even when they were presumed innocent because they couldn't afford bail.

"The procedures that were in place in Harris County were not cutting it," said Susanne Pringle of the Texas Fair Defense Project.  

It's been a years-long legal battle after the Texas Fair Defense Project filed a case against the county on behalf of three low-income plaintiffs charged with misdemeanors who couldn't come up with enough cash to pay for bail.

"The theory of the case is that it's a violation of equal protection rights to hold someone on bail that they can't afford," Pringle said. "Counties in Texas are already thinking about what they can do to be more fair, and this ruling says to counties 'we can't automatically assess bond. We actually need to have a hearing. We actually need to consider ability to pay.'"

The Fifth Circuit recommended that poor people in Harris County should have the chance to argue for a low or no cost bond within 48 hours of their arrest.

Meanwhile, those in the bond industry said it's a win on their end as well.

"The ruling, in our view, upholds the use of preset bond amounts," said Rodney Vannerson, the owner of Aaron Bonding Agency in Harris County. 

Some say the court's opinion gives the bond industry a stamp of approval.

But bondsmen still say they want more guidance from the state lawmakers, rather than following regulations that vary from county-to-county.

"There has to be a standard established, and I think that's what's the legislature is going to work on this upcoming session," Vannerson said.