Fifth Circuit Gives Passes To Judges Who Violate Due Process Rights For Personal Gain

New Orleans judge Paul Bonin tells pretrial criminal defendants to pay up to $300/month to a private, for-profit ankle-monitoring company or stay in jail. Judge does not tell defendants that the company is owned by his former law partner, who regularly donated to the judge's judicial campaigns (including an unpaid loan). Judge also does not tell defendants that other companies are available. Judge does, however, threaten jailing at the company's behest solely for failure to pay. Fifth Circuit (unpublished): This fails to plausibly allege a due process concern.

The case is Meade v. Bonin, No. 21-30620 (5th Cir. May 6, 2025).