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STATE v. NORMAN MASTRIAN

Minnesota Supreme Court1963-06-28No. No. 39,134
266 Minn. 58122 N.W.2d 621

Summary

Holding. The trial court's decision to set bail at $100,000 and deny reduction was affirmed because the defendant failed to establish that the court abused its discretion or violated his constitutional rights.

Norman Mastrian was indicted for first-degree murder in Ramsey County and bail was set at $100,000. He appealed the bail amount and the district court's denial of his request for reduction. The court identified the purpose of bail as ensuring a defendant's appearance at trial and outlined factors a trial court should consider when setting bail: the seriousness of the offense and potential punishment, the defendant's physical condition, his financial ability to post a lower amount, and circumstances suggesting whether he would appear for trial, including his ties to the community and arrest circumstances.

The appellate court reviewed whether the trial judge abused its discretion in setting the bail amount. Mastrian argued that bail for first-degree murder cases is typically set at substantially lower amounts and that he was unable to produce $100,000. The trial court had noted that Mastrian suggested a $20,000 bond. The court found that Mastrian had not established a constitutional rights violation based on the comparison to other cases and the amount he proposed. The court preserved his right to seek a speedy trial if unable to make bail and allowed him to file a future application with additional evidence.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether a trial court abused its discretion in setting bail at $100,000 for a first-degree murder charge
  • What factors should guide bail-setting decisions
  • Whether bail amount constitutes a deprivation of constitutional rights

Procedural posture

The defendant appealed from a district court order setting bail at $100,000 and denying his application for reduction.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

Per Curiam.

On May 8, 1963, defendant Norman Mastrian was indicted by the grand jury of Ramsey County for murder in the first degree. Bail was set by the district court at $100,000. An application for reduction was denied and defendant appeals.

We review the order although the question of whether appeal is available in such a case is doubtful. Constitutional rights are involved, and since no question is raised by the state, the record presented to us is reviewed for an answer to the following issue: Did the trial court abuse its discretion in fixing bail in the amount specified and in refusing reduction upon application?

The purpose of arrest and confinement of a person charged with a crime is to assure his presence at the time fixed for his trial. The purpose of bail in cases such as this is to permit his release if appearance at trial can otherwise be guaranteed. The amount of bah which will accomplish the objective is for determination by the court having jurisdiction over the defendant when the bah is fixed. Factors for consideration include:

(1) The seriousness of the offense charged and the severity of the punishment to be imposed if defendant is found guilty.

(2) The physical condition of defendant.

(3) The ability of defendant to provide bah in an amount less than that initially fixed but adequate to meet the minimal requirements of the situation.

(4) The circumstances of the case pointing to the likelihood of defendant’s appearance if released on bah including his past history; his relationship to the community at the time of his arrest; and the circumstances of his apprehension.

In reviewing the decision made by the district court, the view of the trial judge wih be accepted unless defendant shows that the discretion exercised was abused so as to deprive him of his constitutional rights.

We are called upon to reverse the order of the district court upon a showing that in other cases involving murder in the first degree bad has been and is generady fixed at a substantiady lower amount, and that defendant is wholly unable to produce a bad of $100,000. We cannot determine from the showing made what bail defendant contends would be adequate and possible for him to secure, but the trial court in its memorandum states that defendant suggested a bond in the amount of $20,000. In light of the decisions of other courts, we do not feel that defendant has established a deprivation of his constitutional rights.

The decision of the trial court is affirmed. The right of defendant to move for a speedy trial in the event he cannot make bad may be the solution to his problem. Further, our decision is without prejudice to the right of defendant to make further application with such additional evidence as this opinion may suggest.

Affirmed.

See, Minn. St. 632.01; State v. Saha, 169 Minn. 514, 211 N. W. 469.

Minn. Const, art. 1, §§ 5, 7; U. S. Const. Amend. VIII.

See, Minn. St. 629.30; 6 C. J. S., Arrest, § 1.

In re Application of Shetsky for Return of Bail Money, 239 Minn. 463, 60 N. W. (2d) 40.

8 Am. Jur. (2d) Bail and Recognizance, § 13, and cases cited; Forest v. United States (8 Cir.) 203 F. (2d) 83, certiorari granted, Sentner v. United States, 348 U. S. 935, 75 S. Ct. 361, 99 L. ed. 733; Gusick v. Boies, 72 Ariz. 233, 233 P. (2d) 446; Wadey v. Justice Court, 176 Cal. App. (2d) 426, 1 Cal. Rptr. 382.

See cases collected in Annotation, 72 A. L. R. 801; 8 Am. Jur. (2d) Bail and Recognizance, §§ 39 to 45, 71.

See, Kennedy v. Corrigan, 169 Neb. 586, 100 N. W. (2d) 550; Ex parte Malley, 50 Nev. 248, 256 P. 512, 53 A. L. R. 395; Annotation, 53 A. L. R. 399.

People ex rel. Rao v. Adams, 296 N. Y. 231, 72 N. E. (2d) 170; United States v. Dioguardi (2 Cir.) 237 F. (2d) 57; Cohen v. United States, 82 S. Ct. 8, 7 L. ed. (2d) 13; Lupino v. United States (8 Cir.) 258 F. (2d) 792. For a discussion of the limitation on the right of a court to fix bail, see Stack v. Boyle, 342 U. S. 1, 72 S. Ct. 1, 96 L. ed. 3. See discussions in 51 Mich. L. Rev. 389; 41 Yale L. J. 293; 60 Harv. L.Rev. 1154.