In People v. Rhodius, the Supreme Court yesterday allowed more defendants to take advantage of a statute retroactively eliminating most sentence enhancements imposed for prior prison terms.

(Subscription required) Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy joined judicial officers from across the world at a virtual event intended to highlight threats to the justice system.

(Subscription required) Justices have asked for briefs on the 2020 law's constitutionality, questioning if racially discriminatory language in death penalty cases mandates reversal. The issue revolves around whether courts are obligated to reverse convictions when such errors occur based on the Legislature's judgment.

In People v. Wiley, the Supreme Court yesterday held the Sixth Amendment guaranteed a defendant a jury trial on certain facts that were the basis for imposing an upper term sentence for making a criminal threat. The sentencing court, without a jury, had relied on the defendant’s prior convictions, his poor performance on probation, and the increasing seriousness of the charges.