Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. George JOHNSON
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1970-11-23
Citations: 256 La. 1016
Docket Number: No. 50989
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. George JOHNSON.
Judges: McCALEB, Justice, is of the opinion that the bond is excessive and should be reduced to $10,000.
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 256
Pages: 1015–1017

Head Matter:
240 So.2d 743
STATE of Louisiana v. George JOHNSON.
No. 50989.
Nov. 23, 1970.

Opinion:
The application is denied. We find no-abuse of discretion by the trial judge.
McCALEB, Justice, is of the opinion that the bond is excessive and should be reduced to $10,000.
BARHAM, Justice,
is of the opinion that bail is. excessive. The maximum sentence that can be imposed is 2 years. It is the legislative determination of the nature of the offense and the degree of punishment responsive to it, which the court must consider, and it is not the judiciary's emotional and mental reaction that a particular offense shocks their individual conscience, which should determine the "seriousness of the offense" and the amount of bail. Bail is required for the purpose of assuring appearance in court proceedings and not for the purpose of inflicting pun ishment before a determination of guilt. See C.Cr.P. Art. 317.