In the summer of 2023, the Colorado Supreme court ruled that judges must set bond or bail for murder suspects, as part of the banning of capital punishment, commonly called the death penalty, for them. Bail is the money a defendant must pay in order to bail, or get out of, jail. Bail Bond is posted on the defendant’s behalf to secure his or her release and involves a third party.  Denying the right to these was considered by the court as in the same grouping as denying murder suspects the right to life is, or severe punishments for capital crimes. Since then, this decision has been questioned often. 

The suspect for the UCCS dorm double murder was arrested, with a bond set for $5 million. This is one of the first well known murder cases in Colorado to have a bond set. What happens if someone pays this suspect’s bond? Should murder suspects be able to bail themselves out of jail? Questions like these have caused a suggested revisit of the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling. Whether or not they actually will, or what will happen, remains to be seen. 

Cites

https://www.courts.state.co.us/userfiles/file/Court_Probation/Supreme_Court/Opinions/2023/23SA2.pdf

https://www.denver7.com/news/360/liberties-vs-safety-should-first-degree-murder-suspects-have-a-right-to-bond-in-colorado

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/university-colorado-colorado-springs-double-shooting-suspect-appears-before-judge/