United States v. Reynolds
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United States v. Reynolds, 235 U. S. 133 (1914).
Facts: State statute allowed a person to appear as a surety for a defendant convicted of a misdemeanor and pay his fine in exchange for the defendant's entering into an employment contract to repay the surety.
Issue: Does the statute violate the 13th Amendment?
Holding: Yes. Also, it violates a federal statute enacted after it that prohibited enforcing the voluntary or involuntary service or labor of any persons as peons, in liquidation of any debt or obligation.
Comment: The constant threat of imprisonment with a broken contract is equivalent to involuntary servitude.
