Oral arguments will be heard in a potential landmark court case in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta this coming Tuesday, May 15 at 9:00 AM.

Maurice Walker vs. the City of Calhoun, Georgia, concerns an individual who was arrested and his contention that he was unlawfully denied the right to bail because of his inability to pay the amount indicated by a set bond schedule.

The case has enormous implications for public safety not only throughout the jurisdiction of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, but beyond.  Because it is a federal case, the court’s ruling may also have a ripple effect throughout the entire U.S. and could result in the total abolishment of money bail nationwide.  Depending on the decision of the Eleventh Circuit, the case will almost certainly make its way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement will be arguing on behalf of the City of Calhoun that bail is guaranteed in the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.  Clement is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading constitutional litigators.

 

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