Task: songer_stpolicy

What follows is an opinion from a United States Court of Appeals. You will be asked a question pertaining to issues that may appear in any civil law cases including civil government, civil private, and diversity cases. The issue is: "Did the interpretation of state or local law, executive order, administrative regulation, doctrine, or rule of procedure by the court favor the appellant?" Answer the question based on the directionality of the appeals court decision. If the court discussed the issue in its opinion and answered the related question in the affirmative, answer "Yes". If the issue was discussed and the opinion answered the question negatively, answer "No". If the opinion considered the question but gave a mixed answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part, answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion does not discuss the issue, or notes that a particular issue was raised by one of the litigants but the court dismissed the issue as frivolous or trivial or not worthy of discussion for some other reason, answer "Issue not discussed". If the opinion considered the question but gave a "mixed" answer, supporting the respondent in part and supporting the appellant in part (or if two issues treated separately by the court both fell within the area covered by one question and the court answered one question affirmatively and one negatively), answer "Mixed answer". If the opinion either did not consider or discuss the issue at all or if the opinion indicates that this issue was not worthy of consideration by the court of appeals even though it was discussed by the lower court or was raised in one of the briefs, answer "Issue not discussed".

PER CURIAM.
Defendant appeals his conviction for jumping bail in violation of the Bail Reform Act of 1966, 18 U.S.C.A. § 3150. He contends the District Court’s order setting aside forfeiture of his property bond precludes the possibility of his conviction for jumping bail.
On September 14, 1977, Defendant was indicted by the federal grand jury for the Western District of Tennessee for possession of stolen mail and for forgery of government checks. The next day he signed papers required by the Bail Reform Act and was released on a $4,000 bond secured by his parents’ home. In October, the letter notifying him of his January report and trial dates was returned undelivered and subsequently remailed to a different address. The Defendant did not appear on his report date nor did his lawyer, who spoke with Defendant that morning, appear in court. After Defendant again failed to respond to another letter of notification, his bond was revoked in March of 1978 and forfeiture entered in April. Later that month, Defendant turned himself in to the appropriate authorities. Forfeiture was set aside by the District Court on June 9, 1978. Defendant was convicted of jumping bail on July 5, 1978 and, on August 25, 1978, was sentenced to six months imprisonment to be served consecutively to other sentences imposed on Defendant.
Defendant’s contention that forfeiture is a condition precedent to violation of the bail jumping statute, 18 U.S.C.A. § 3150, is without merit. The Bail Reform Act repealed the prior bail jumping statute which provided that a Defendant on bail would have thirty days after forfeiture of bail to appear before criminal proceedings could be invoked. The present statute simply provides for forfeiture of the bond of the person released on bail if he fails to appear as required “and, in addition” shall be subject to criminal penalties. As noted by the Eighth Circuit, “The statute by its plain language does not require forfeiture of bail as a condition precedent to criminal prosecution as an essential element of the offense.” United States v. DePugh, 434 F.2d 548, 553 (8th Cir. 1970).
Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the judgment of the District Court be, and hereby is, affirmed.
. “Whoever, having been released pursuant to this chapter, willfully fails to appear before any court or judicial officer as required, shall, subject to the provisions of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, incur a forfeiture of any security which was given or pledged for his release, and, in addition, shall, (1) if he was released in connection with a charge of felony, or while awaiting sentence or pending appeal or certiorari after conviction of any offense, be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, or (2) if he was released in connection with a charge of misdemeanor, be fined not more than the maximum provided for such misdemeanor or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both, or (3) if he was released for appearance as a material witness, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.”
. 18 U.S.C.A. § 3146. See United States v. Hall, 346 F.2d 875 (2d Cir. 1965).

Question: Did the interpretation of state or local law, executive order, administrative regulation, doctrine, or rule of procedure by the court favor the appellant?
A. No
B. Yes
C. Mixed answer
D. Issue not discussed
Answer:

Answer: D