[jplewicke]

The point is to give the defendant a proportionately strong incentive to show up at the trial. The judge has authority to set bail at a level that makes it likely they'll actually stand trial, which has to take into account the defendant's personal resources, the size of the potential punishment, and the level of danger they pose. If Bill Gates was being tried for first degree murder, I'm sure his bail would be set well north of $1 billion.