State v. Pray

These cases, heard jointly on appeal, challenge the constitutional validity of the bail statute, 13 V.S.A. § 7554, as it relates to non-capital cases prior to trial, when used to deny bail on the basis that release of a prisoner would constitute a danger to the public.

Gary Pray was indicted in the Bennington Superior Court for first-degree murder, 13 V.S.A. § 2301, on May 6, 1971. On trial conviction resulted, which was affirmed after mandatory appeal here. State v. Pray, 130 Vt. 613, 298 A.2d 859 (1972). Later, a post-conviction proceeding brought before this Court resulted in reversal and a…