Opinion
No. 275-77
Opinion Filed October 14, 1977
Bail — Revocation
The burden of establishing facts which support revocation of bail is upon the state with a right in the defendant to contest the evidence introduced, and permitting revocation without opportunity to be heard and to contest is a denial of due process.
Bail proceeding. District Court, Unit No. 5, Washington Circuit, Connarn, J., presiding. Order revoking bail vacated.
Gregory W. McNaughton, Washington County State's Attorney, Montpelier, for Plaintiff.
James L. Morse, Defender General, Charles S. Martin, Appellate Defender, and Richard I. Rubin, Deputy Public Defender, Montpelier, for Defendant.
Present: Barney, C.J., Daley, Larrow, and Hill, JJ.
The burden of establishing facts which support revocation of bail is upon the State with a right in the defendant to contest the evidence introduced.
The condition of release imposed by the trial court, i.e., that respondent not commit any offense for which probable cause may be found by the court, as interpreted by the trial court to permit revocation of bail upon an ex parte determination, without opportunity to be heard and to contest, is a denial of due process. Mullane v. Central Hanover Bank Trust Co., 339 U.S. 306, 314 (1950); Aiken v. Malloy, 132 Vt. 200, 209, 315 A.2d 488 (1974).
The order of the trial court revoking bail is vacated, and respondent is released upon the conditions of relief previously imposed, except the condition (No. 6) above referred to. To be certified down forthwith.
Billings, J. did not sit.