Robert v Kosrae [2004] FMSC 38; 12 FSM Intrm. 523 (App. 2004) (16 June 2004)

FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
SUPREME COURT APPELLATE DIVISION
Cite as Robert v Kosrae, [2004] FMSC 38; 12 FSM Intrm 523 (App. 2004)

BEUDAN R. ROBERT,
Appellant

vs

STATE OF KOSRAE
Appellee

KOSRAE CRIMINAL CASE NO 55-2004

ORDER GRANTING RELEASE PENDING APPEAL

Andon L. Amaraich
Chief Justice

Decided: June 16, 2004

APPEARANCE:

For the Appellant:
Harry Seymour, Esq.
Office of the Public Defender
P.O. Box 245
Lelu, Kosrae FM 96944

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HEADNOTES

Appellate Review - Decisions Reviewable; Bail
A defendant may appeal from an interlocutory order denying him bail. Robert v. Kosrae, [2004] FMSC 38; 12 FSM Intrm. 523, 524 (App. 2004).

Bail
While denial of bail because a defendant, who was charged with driving under the influence, posed a danger to the community since he might operate a vehicle under the influence at some point in the future may possibly be correct under Kosrae Criminal Procedure Rule 46(a)(1), it contravenes Kosrae State Code Section 6.401, which permits a court to deny a defendant bail only if the defendant is intoxicated and will be offensive to the general public. Robert v. Kosrae, [2004] FMSC 38; 12 FSM Intrm. 523, 524 (App. 2004).

Bail
Rules of procedure generally may not abridge substantive rights created by statute. Thus, to the extent Kosrae Criminal Procedure Rule 46(a)(1) purports to abridge a defendant’s right to bail under Kosrae State Code Section 6.401, the Rule is likely void and of no effect. Robert v. Kosrae, [2004] FMSC 38; 12 FSM Intrm. 523, 524 (App. 2004).

Appellate Review - Stay; Bail
When the trial court’s decision to deny a defendant bail under Kosrae Rule of Criminal Procedure 46(a)(1) even though Section 6.401 appears to have entitled him to bail may be error, given the likelihood that the defendant will prevail on the merits of his appeal, he may be released from incarceration pending the outcome of his appeal. Robert v. Kosrae, [2004] FMSC 38; 12 FSM Intrm. 523, 524 (App. 2004).

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COURT’S OPINION

ANDON L. AMARAICH, Chief Justice:

I.

Pursuant to Rule of Appellate Procedure 9(a), Defendant-Appellant Beudan R. Robert appeals from an interlocutory order of the Trial Division of the Kosrae State Court denying him bail. The Trial Division appears to have denied bail under Kosrae Rule of Criminal Procedure 46(a)(1) reasoning that Robert, who was charged with driving under the influence, posed a danger to the community because he might operate a vehicle under the influence at some point in the future. This result, although possibly correct under Kosrae Rule of Criminal Procedure 46(a)(1), contravenes Section 6.401 of the Kosrae State Code, which permits a court to deny a defendant bail only if the defendant is intoxicated and will be offensive to the general public - findings that the trial judge did not make.

Rules of procedure generally may not abridge substantive rights created by statute. Thus, to the extent Kosrae Rule of Criminal Procedure 46(a)(1) purports to abridge a defendant’s right to bail under Section 6.401 of the Kosrae State Code, the Rule is likely void and of no effect. Concomitantly, the Trial Division’s decision in this case to deny Robert bail under Kosrae Rule of Criminal Procedure 46(a)(1) even though Section 6.401 appears to have entitled Robert to bail may also be error.

II.

Given the likelihood that Defendant Robert will prevail on the merits of his appeal, it is hereby ordered that Defendant Beudan R. Robert be released from incarceration pending the outcome of his appeal. See FSM App. R. 9(a) ("The appellate division or a justice thereof may order the release of the appellant pending . . . appeal.").

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