SCOV Law

I'll take SCOV opinions for $400. By:  Elizabeth Kruska   We here at HQ decided I’d handle last week’s opinions. There were three. By the time I got to it, SCOV snuck in a fourth. I can’t tell if I’m complaining. I do know that I’m summarizing four opinions. Buckle up, buttercups, this is going to be a long post.   State v. Sartwell ,  2026 VT 46  is a short bail appeal opinion where SCOV affirmed a trial court’s hold without bail (HWOB) order. In short, here’s what happened. Mr. Sartwell was charged in 2023 with some felony offenses. Because of prior felony convictions, the state also included habitual offender enhancement notices with respect to the new felony allegations. This makes him eligible to be held without bail, since the maximum possible penalty could be a life sentence. In fact, the presumption is that such a defendant be held without bail. It’s then up to the defendant to persuade the court to set bail or conditions of release. The trial court has ...