Opinion ID: 2054185
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Release Bond.

Text: Summage concedes he does not have a right to bail on appeal under the Iowa or Federal Constitutions. See State v. Kellogg, 534 N.W.2d 431, 434 (Iowa 1995); State v. Anderson, 338 N.W.2d 372, 375 (Iowa 1983). However, he contends he has a statutory right to bail pursuant to Iowa Code section 811.5. To the extent he claims a violation of his statutory rights under the Iowa Code, our review is on error. See Iowa R.App. P. 4.; Kellogg, 534 N.W.2d at 434. Summage relies upon the following language of section 811.5 to support his assertion of a statutory right to bail on appeal: [a]fter conviction, upon appeal to the appellate court, the defendant must be admitted to bail.... (Emphasis added.) He also notes that there is no express exclusion of a postconviction relief applicant from the provisions of chapter 811 set forth in section 811.1(2) (excluding defendants appealing convictions of certain offenses from eligibility for bail). We find the plain language of the statute eliminates Summage from eligibility for bail on appeal. The statute refers throughout to a defendant 's eligibility for bail. Section 811.5 provides for bail during certain criminal appeals. See Kellogg, 534 N.W.2d at 434. Summage is the applicant in this civil postconviction action. He is not a criminal defendant. See Orr v. Jackson, 149 Iowa 641, 643-44, 128 N.W. 958, 960 (1910) (finding an unsuccessful petitioner for habeas corpus relief ineligible for bail on appeal). We have explained that [t]he purpose of bail on appeal in a criminal case is only to suspend the execution of judgment pending the appeal. Id. There is no such function to be performed where an applicant appeals the dismissal or denial of his or her postconviction relief application. See id. We affirm the district court's dismissal of Summage's application for postconviction relief and reject his claim that he is eligible for bail on appeal pursuant to section 811.5. AFFIRMED.