State v. Gonzalez

¶1 A criminal defendant has the right to appear in court without restraints and without manifestations that he is being held in jail (such as being forced to wear prison clothing). An indigent criminal defendant also has the same right to the unqualified presumption of innocence as one who can afford to post bail. Here, the court told the jury at the outset of this trial that Martin Gonzalez could not post bail, was therefore being held in jail, was being transported to and from court in handcuffs, and that uniformed officers were guarding him in the courtroom. The question presented is…