Opinion ID: 1620610
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Iowa Constitution Article I, Section 17 (Excessive Bail).[12]

Text: Due to the similarity between the Federal and Iowa Excessive Bail Clauses, the Iowa Supreme Court `look[s] to the interpretations by the United States Supreme Court for guidance in interpreting [Iowa's] clause.' State v. Briggs, 666 N.W.2d 573, 584 (Iowa 2003) (citing State v. Izzolena, 609 N.W.2d 541, 547 (Iowa 2000)). The Federal Constitution's Excessive Bail Clause only prohibits excessive bail in cases where it is proper to grant bail; it does not impliedly create a right to bail. Carlson v. Landon, 342 U.S. 524, 545, 72 S.Ct. 525, 537, 96 L.Ed. 547, 563 (1952). Because petitioners offer no reason for us to interpret the Iowa Constitution's Excessive Bail Clause differently, we conclude that it does not create a right to bail, but instead only ensures that properly granted bail is not excessive. Accordingly, petitioners' claim that the Iowa Excessive Bail Clause entitles them to bail must fail.