Columbus Criminal Defense Attorney Newscast
To celebrate the approach of the college football season, the format of this blog will be a bit more whimsical.
Q: How many University of Michigan students does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: One, but he gets 3 credits.
As Ohioans, it’s easy to do a 10 minute monologue filled with Michigan jokes but finding PG-rated jokes is a challenge, I admit. The following ruling, however, is no joke. District Court Judge John O’Meara (who also happens to sit in Ann Arbor), interpreted Miller v. Alabama, 132 S. Ct. 245 (2012) to require the Michigan Department of Corrections to grant parole consideration to all 350 juveniles convicted of murder and sentenced to LWOP. As you might remember, in Miller, the Supreme Court held the Eighth Amendment’s Cruel and Unusual Punishment provision is violated when juveniles are sentenced to LWOP and forever denied parole consideration. The important point in Judge O’Meara’s decision is he applied Miller both prospectively as well as retroactively. This ruling rejected the Michigan attorney general’s contention that Miller’s ban on no-parole sentences for juveniles applied only to those who were sentenced after Miller and who were also party to the habeas action that was filed in this case. 
The Michigan Attorney General doesn’t simply disagree with Judge O’Meara’s decision; instead, he “strongly disagrees” and will appeal to the Sixth Circuit.
Like this blog began, we’ll end it on a positive note:
Q: Why do University of Michigan fans keep their diplomas on their dashboards?
A: So they can park in handicap spaces.
The Scott & Nolder Law Firm has built a solid reputation as criminal defense lawyers in Columbus and throughout the state of Ohio with providing a top-notch criminal defense for our clients. We also handle all types of federal criminal defense cases. Call us to set an appointment with one of our Columbus criminal defense attorneys today.
