Mr. Skakel's 2002 conviction in the murder of Martha Moxley was tossed out by a judge last month, a decision prosecutors have said they plan to appeal.
Mr. Skakel a nephew of Ethel Skakel Kennedy and the late Robert F. Kennedy, smiled outside Stamford Superior Court Thursday afternoon after posting a $1.2 million bail. He can't leave the state and has to wear a GPS tracking device, under conditions set at a hearing presided over by Connecticut Superior Court Judge Gary White.
Michael has been full of disappointments since the beginning of his prosecution in 1999. So he never felt confident that this day would come," said Mr. Skakel's attorney, Hubert Santos. "When it finally came, a great burden was finally lifted off his shoulders."
Mr. Skakel, 53 years old, who has been in prison for 11 years, left with relatives by car and didn't speak with reporters.
Dorthy Moxley and John Moxley, the mother and brother of Martha, attended the hearing. "We are disappointed," Mr. Moxley said afterward.
Relatives of Mr. Skakel applauded in the courtroom when Judge White granted bail. On hearing the judge's decision, Mr. Skakel said, "Thank God," according to Mr. Santos.
"This is the first step in correcting a terrible wrong," the Skakel family said in a statement. "We look forward to Michael being vindicated and justice finally being served."
Mr. Skakel's original trial drew its notoriety from the Kennedy connection and the 25 years of investigations and speculation that had ensued since the killing. Ms. Moxley and Mr. Skakel were 15 years old at the time of her death.
Ms. Moxley was found beaten to death with a golf club that neither the prosecution nor the defense disputed belonged to the Skakel family. A witness testified that Mr. Skakel confessed to the killing. He was sentenced to 20 years to life.
Judge Thomas Bishop ordered a new trial in October after concluding Mr. Skakel's original trial lawyer provided ineffective assistance of counsel. His attorney neglected to contest and rebut the testimony of an important witness for the prosecution, among other errors, the judge wrote.
It could take more than a year before the state's appeal is decided.
