DT tells court he cannot post bond

[Slimshandy]

In layman's terms, explain what it means?

The Court has held the clause inapplicable to civil jury awards of punitive damages in cases between private parties, when the government neither has prosecuted the action nor has any right to receive a share of the damages awarded.4 The Court based this conclusion on a review of the history and purposes of the Excessive Fines Clause. At the time the Eighth Amendment was adopted, the Court noted, the word ‘fine’ was understood to mean a payment to a sovereign as punishment for some offense.







It means that normally in civil trials this doesn’t apply, but in cases where the state/fed would be monetary recipients, it does.

What about the bolded?

Right… what do you think that means?