State v. Sweet
SummaryOriginal

Summary

2016 | State Juristiction

State v. Sweet

Keywords juvenile sentencing; juvenile life without parole; cruel and unusual punishment; Iowa Constitution; Miller v. Alabama; resentencing

Abstract

The 2016 Supreme Court of Iowa case State v. Sweet involved a juvenile defendant convicted in the District Court of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole. The defendant appealed and the Supreme Court of Iowa held that this sentence violated the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Iowa Constitution which prohibits juvenile offenders from being sentenced to life without parole.

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Abstract

The 2016 Supreme Court of Iowa case State v. Sweet involved a juvenile defendant convicted in the District Court of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole. The defendant appealed and the Supreme Court of Iowa held that this sentence violated the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Iowa Constitution which prohibits juvenile offenders from being sentenced to life without parole.

Summary

The 2016 Iowa Supreme Court case State v. Sweet centered on a juvenile defendant convicted of first-degree murder in District Court and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Upon appeal, the Iowa Supreme Court found this sentence to be in violation of the state's constitutional prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment, specifically as it pertained to the sentencing of juvenile offenders to life without parole.

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Abstract

The 2016 Supreme Court of Iowa case State v. Sweet involved a juvenile defendant convicted in the District Court of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole. The defendant appealed and the Supreme Court of Iowa held that this sentence violated the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Iowa Constitution which prohibits juvenile offenders from being sentenced to life without parole.

Summary

The 2016 Iowa Supreme Court case State v. Sweet involved a juvenile defendant convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole. The defendant appealed the sentence, arguing it violated the Iowa Constitution's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The Iowa Supreme Court agreed, ruling that life without parole sentences for juveniles are unconstitutional under the state's constitution.

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Abstract

The 2016 Supreme Court of Iowa case State v. Sweet involved a juvenile defendant convicted in the District Court of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole. The defendant appealed and the Supreme Court of Iowa held that this sentence violated the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Iowa Constitution which prohibits juvenile offenders from being sentenced to life without parole.

Summary

The 2016 case State v. Sweet involved a young person found guilty of murder in Iowa. The court sentenced them to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The defendant appealed this sentence, arguing that it was cruel and unusual punishment. The Iowa Supreme Court agreed with the defendant, ruling that sentencing juveniles to life without parole violates the Iowa Constitution.

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Abstract

The 2016 Supreme Court of Iowa case State v. Sweet involved a juvenile defendant convicted in the District Court of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole. The defendant appealed and the Supreme Court of Iowa held that this sentence violated the cruel and unusual punishment clause of the Iowa Constitution which prohibits juvenile offenders from being sentenced to life without parole.

Summary

In 2016, the Iowa Supreme Court heard a case called State v. Sweet. This case was about a young person who was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of ever getting out. The young person argued that this sentence was too harsh and went against the Iowa Constitution, which says that young people can't be sentenced to life without parole. The Iowa Supreme Court agreed with the young person and ruled that the sentence was unfair.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

879 N.W.2d 811 (Iowa 2016)

Highlights