Stack v. Boyle
A plain-English summary from Criminal Defense Resources™, a free resource for pro per/pro se defendants and their families.
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm. This page describes what a court decided in general terms. It does not tell you what to do in any case.
- Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Decided
- Citation
- 342 U.S. 1 (1951)
- Topics
- Bail & Pretrial Release
What did the court decide?
The Court held that bail set higher than an amount reasonably calculated to make sure the defendant shows up for trial is "excessive" under the Eighth Amendment. Bail must be based on standards tied to that purpose and to the individual defendant.
Why does it matter?
The classic Supreme Court case on excessive bail and individualized bail decisions.
Where can I read the full opinion?
Read the full opinion on Cornell Law School LII →
Always read the full opinion and check whether later cases have limited or changed it. A summary can leave out important details.
Related rulings
General educational information, not legal advice. Not a law firm.