US appeals court keeps alive resentencing hopes of 3 men doing life since they were juveniles

The Associated Press
October 3, 2013

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Three men who have been serving life sentences since they were juveniles won a fresh chance to convince judges they deserve to be resentenced under a decision Thursday by the federal appeals court based in Philadelphia.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said there was at least some reason to think last year’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of Miller v. Alabama, throwing out mandatory life without parole sentences for juveniles, should be applied retroactively.

The court stressed its decision is tentative and made under a standard that means there is enough possible merit to warrant a full exploration of the matter. The defendants must still convince the district judges they should be resentenced.

Read More