Summary
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court struck down California's criminal sentencing law Monday, saying it violated defendants' right to a jury trial by giving judges too much power to toughen sentences. The decision could require new sentences for thousands of convicts in the nation's largest state prison system.
The 6-3 ruling in the case of a California man who sexually abused his son reflects a seven-year trend in which the high court has limited judges' discretion in sentencing. The ruling ensures that juries, not judges, determine any aggravating factors, such as the viciousness of the act or the vulnerability of a victim, that increase prison time.See the full content of this document
Extract
Sentencing Law Struck Down
"This court has repeatedly held that ... any fact that exposes a defendant to a greater potential sentence must be found by a...
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