Daily Briefs . . .

 U.S. Supreme Court to review sentences for young convicts

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will decide whether its 2-year-old ruling throwing out mandatory life in prison without parole for juveniles should apply to older cases.

The justices recently said that they will examine the case of a Louisiana man who has been imprisoned since 1985 for the accidental shooting of his best friend during a botched armed robbery.
George Toca was 17 at the time of the shooting and was given an automatic life term with no possibility of parole. Toca argues someone else accidentally shot the friend, but that issue is not before the court.
 
In 2012, the justices ruled that judges and juries must take account of age when sentencing people who were younger than 18 at the time of even the most brutal crimes.
Courts around the country have differed on whether prison inmates whose cases are closed can take advantage of the high court ruling and seek parole or new sentencing hearings. The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled against Toca.

In a separate case, New Hampshire officials are appealing to the Supreme Court over a state court ruling that granted four men who were convicted of murder as teenagers new sentencing hearings.
The Supreme Court has handed down a series of rulings that hold juveniles less responsible than adults when their sentences are considered. The latest case involves how the court’s views about juvenile sentences mesh with another line of cases that deal with when major court decisions should apply retroactively to older cases.

Toca has lost several rounds of appeals about his responsibility for the crime that landed him at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, including that witnesses mistakenly identified him as the shooter.

The case will be argued in the early spring.

The case is Toca v. Louisiana, 14-6381.
 

SBM adds expanded profiles to new  member directory

The State Bar of Michigan is providing its members with an opportunity to preview a new member benefit that will give you the tools to enhance your unique online presence through a free expanded member directory profile listing. We will be rolling out this program to the full membership in early January.
 
Economic pressures and new forms of technology are changing the legal landscape fundamentally and permanently. Increasingly, successful practice requires attorneys to embrace and use technology. That is why the SBM has partnered with the online legal marketplace ZeekBeek to build a full-featured membership directory that makes it easy for members to share information with the public and peers.
New features you can take advantage of include the ability to:

• Create a customized and detailed profile, including a photo

• Share your unique URL and use your profile page as your personal website if you don't currently have one

• Post publications, blogs, and videos

• Build connections with other lawyers

• Map your geolocation

Facilitate client contact through optional site contact, endorsement, and review features

––––––––––––––––––––
 Subscribe to the Legal News!
 https://test.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available