State v. Pagliai
The Iowa Supreme Court held that it was invalid for a trial court to order a defendant to pay court costs pursuant to a plea agreement when the underlying charges were dismissed. The majority found the court lacked statutory authorization to assess costs in dismissed cases, but a concurrence would have reached the defendant’s constitutional arguments and found a due process violation.
Related Commentary
Fines, Fees, and Bail in State Courts
Recent state supreme court cases, including a major California ruling last week, address the burden of court-imposed financial obligations on criminal defendants.