Stack v. Boyle

Stack v. Boyle is a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case from 1951 that addressed the issue of bail. The Court ruled that bail amounts must be reasonable and not excessive, emphasizing that bail should ensure a defendant's presence at trial without being a punishment. In this case, the bail set for a group of defendants charged with conspiracy was found to be disproportionately high. The decision reinforced the principle that the Eighth Amendment’s protection against excessive bail applies to all defendants, ensuring fairness in the judicial process.