HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's high court will consider whether some automatic life sentences for those convicted of murder violate constitutional protections for defendants, the justices said Friday.
The appeal being pursued by Derek Lee, convicted of a 2014 killing, argues the state's life-without-parole law violates prohibitions in the Pennsylvania and U.S. constitutions against cruel punishment.
Advocates say there are about 5,200 people in Pennsylvania currently serving what they call “death by incarceration” sentences, the highest per capita rate among states.
In a June ruling, the Pennsylvania Superior Court cited decisions in previous, similar appeals as it turned down Lee's claim that life-without-parole violates his constitutional rights.
But in a concurring opinion, Superior Court Judge Alice Beck Dubow urged the higher court to revisit the matter “in light of changes in related case law from other states and research and policy concerns regarding the criminal justice system.”.
Persons:
Derek Lee, “, Quinn Cozzens, Lee, ” Cozzens, ” Kelly Callihan, Leonard Butler, Butler, ”, codefendant Paul Durham, Alice Beck Dubow
Organizations:
Abolitionist Law Center, Pennsylvania, Association
Locations:
HARRISBURG, Pa, Pennsylvania, Allegheny