Opinion ID: 2051038
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Constitutionality of Bail Provisions

Text: In cause No. 76531, Coyne attacks the constitutionality of section 110-6.3 of the Code, the denial of bail provisions in stalking and aggravated stalking offenses. Coyne contends that section 110-6.3 is unconstitutional because it violates article I, section 9, of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, which provides that all persons are subject to bail except for those in three specifically enumerated categories. Coyne also claims that the statute violates separation of powers principles. In response, the State contends that Coyne's arguments are untimely under Supreme Court Rule 604(c) and are also moot. (145 Ill.2d R. 604(c).) Therefore, the State argues that we should not consider the issue. Alternatively, the State argues that section 110-6.3 is not unconstitutional because it deals with the inherent authority of the courts to deny bail to prevent the fulfillment of threats. Moreover, the State maintains that section 110-6.3 does not infringe upon any power of the judiciary, but rather complements the courts' inherent authority to grant or deny bail. Although the State contends that Coyne's arguments are untimely, we choose to address them at this time. (See American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, Council 31 v. County of Cook (1991), 145 Ill.2d 475, 480, 164 Ill.Dec. 904, 584 N.E.2d 116.) We further find that, while Coyne's arguments may be moot, the criteria for the application of the public interest exception to the mootness doctrine are met. We therefore consider the merits of Coyne's arguments. Coyne first contends that the denial of bail provisions of section 110-6.3 are unconstitutional under article I, section 9, of the Illinois Constitution. With regard to bail, article I, section 9, states: All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for the following offenses where the proof is evident or the presumption great: capital offenses; offenses for which a sentence of life imprisonment may be imposed as a consequence of conviction; and felony offenses for which a sentence of imprisonment, without conditional and revocable release, shall be imposed by law as a consequence of conviction, when the court, after a hearing, determines that release of the offender would pose a real and present threat to the physical safety of any person. Ill. Const.1970, art. I, § 9. At the time of Coyne's bail hearing, only a second or subsequent conviction for aggravated stalking, a Class 2 felony, could fall within an exception in section 9 of article Ifelony offenses for which a sentence of imprisonment, without conditional and revocable release, shall be imposedand therefore be potentially nonbailable. (730 ILCS 5/5-5-3(c)(2)(F) (West 1992).) Consequently, Coyne argues that a defendant charged for the first time with stalking or aggravated stalking is entitled to bail under article I, section 9. Section 110-6.3, however, allows a court to deny bail for a defendant charged with stalking or aggravated stalking if, after a hearing, the court determines that certain enumerated circumstances exist warranting the denial of bail. (See 725 ILCS 5/110-6.3(a), (b) (West 1992).) Coyne therefore contends that to the extent section 110-6.3 renders a bailable offense under the Illinois Constitution potentially nonbailable it unconstitutionally conflicts with article I, section 9, of the Illinois Constitution. In People ex rel. Hemingway v. Elrod (1975), 60 Ill.2d 74, 322 N.E.2d 837, this court rejected the petitioner's argument that a person charged with a bailable offense had an absolute right to be released on bail before conviction: In our opinion the constitutional right to bail must be qualified by the authority of the courts, as an incident of their power to manage the conduct of proceedings before them, to deny or revoke bail when such action is appropriate to preserve the orderly process of criminal procedure. This action must not be based on mere suspicion but must be supported by sufficient evidence to show that it is required. Thus keeping an accused in custody pending trial to prevent interference with witnesses or jurors or to prevent the fulfillment of threats has been approved. [Citations.] We think that under both the United States and Illinois constitutions the denial of bail to an accused under such circumstances is within the inherent power of the court. Also, if a court is satisfied by the proof that an accused will not appear for trial regardless of the amount or conditions of bail, bail may properly be denied. Hemingway, 60 Ill.2d at 79-80, 322 N.E.2d 837. We conclude that section 110-6.3 merely codifies the inherent authority of courts to deny bail to prevent the fulfillment of threats as described in Hemingway. The denial of bail provisions in section 110-6.3 is not invoked unless it is alleged that the denial of bail is necessary to prevent fulfillment of the threat upon which the charge is based. (725 ILCS 5/110-6.3(a) (West 1992).) Therefore, section 110-6.3 does not conflict with article I, section 9 of the Illinois Constitution, but rather codifies the court's inherent authority to deny bail in a particular situation. While Coyne acknowledges that courts have the authority to hold persons without bail, he contends that this power can only be employed after a defendant, initially released on bail, violates the terms of his bail. In support, Coyne relies on a statement in Hemingway that by holding the right to bail was not absolute this court was not adopting the principle of preventive detention. Coyne also relies on the fact that this court in Hemingway cited standards from the American Bar Association which recommended that certain restrictions be placed on a defendant released on bail rather than adopting a pretrial-detention standard. Hemingway, 60 Ill.2d at 80-84, 322 N.E.2d 837. Coyne misconstrues the import of these statements. These statements were made in order to achieve an appropriate balance between the right of an accused to be free on bail pending trial and the right of the public to be protected. By recognizing both the courts' inherent power to deny bail in certain circumstances and that restrictions can be placed on a person admitted to bail, this court sought to achieve that balance. Coyne also argues that section 110-6.3 violates the separation of powers doctrine because it encroaches on the authority of the judiciary to admit persons to bail. We disagree. Section 110-6.3 requires that a court hold a hearing after the State files a petition requesting that the defendant be held without bail. According to the language of the section, following a hearing, the court may deny bail if several enumerated factors exist. Thus, we find section 110-6.3 is discretionary, rather than mandatory, in nature and does not curtail a court's authority to impose bail. Consequently, we find that section 110-6.3 does not impermissibly infringe upon the powers of the court to admit persons to bail. See People v. Felella (1989), 131 Ill.2d 525, 539-40, 137 Ill.Dec. 547, 546 N.E.2d 492; cf. People v. Williams (1991), 143 Ill.2d 477, 483-84, 160 Ill.Dec. 437, 577 N.E.2d 762.