DARRELL BELLARD v. STATE OF MARYLAND
Court of Appeals, Watts, March 31, 2017,
Sentencing- CR 2-304(a) – Following conviction for 1st-degree murder, the judge (not the jury) determines whether to sentence the defendant to life imprisonment or life imprisonment without the possibility of parole
JAMIL ALI v. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY & CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Court of Special Appeals, Woodward, Nov. 30, 2016,
Parole- Inmates that aren’t eligible for parole don’t get diminution credits
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DENNIS LEBLANC v. RANDALL MATHENA, Chief Warden, Red Onion State Prison, Pound, Virginia; COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit,Wynn , Nov. 7, 2016,
Juvenile Life-Imprisonment – Virginia’s “Conditional release of geriatric prisoners” statute does not meet the Graham standard requiring “meaningful opportunity to obtain release based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation” for non-homicide juvenile life-sentences.
Dissent – Niemeyer – Virginia’s implementation is not unreasonable and should receive deference under federal habeas corpus review
Reversed by the Supreme Court
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