United States of America, Ex Rel., Alvaro Garcia v. James F. O'grady, Sheriff of Cook County

I join the court’s opinion, which analyzes the record and persuasively shows that the state court did not act “arbitrarily” in setting Garcia’s bond at $607,000. The court answers the only question the sheriff put to us. Yet it should not pass unnoticed that the sheriff asked the wrong question.

Judge Kowalski of the Circuit Court of Cook County decided what bail to set. The appellate court affirmed. The Supreme Court of Illinois reviewed the case and affirmed in turn. The district court proceeded as if it had under consideration a direct appeal from the decision of the Supreme Court of…