Williams v. Taylor

Holding that counsel's performance was deficient when their investigation failed to uncover "extensive records" filled with mitigation evidence concerning the defendant's family history, education, mental health, and rehabilitation

Lockyer v. Andrade

Holding that pro se prisoner's timely motion for an extension to file an appeal was the functional equivalent of a notice of appeal

Graham v. Florida

Holding life without parole sentences unconstitutional for non-homicide juvenile offenders

Johnson v. Texas

Holding that a jury was free to consider a 19–year–old defendant's youth when determining whether there was a probability that he would continue to commit violent acts in the future and stating that “ ‘youth is more than a chronological fact. It is a time and condition of life when a person may be most susceptible to influence and to psychological damage’ ” (quoting Eddings v. Oklahoma, 455 U.S. 104, 115, 102 S.Ct. 869, 71 L.Ed.2d 1 (1982))

Coker v. Georgia

Holding capital punishment for the rape of a woman unconstitutional where “[a]t no time in the last 50 years have a majority of the States authorized death as a punishment for rape”

People v. Mendez

Holding that a sentence of 84 years to life was the equivalent of life without parole under Graham, and therefore cruel and unusual punishment

Meadoux v. State

Acknowledging that the Eighth Amendment is applicable to the states by virtue of the Fourteenth Amendment (citing Robinson v. California , 370 U.S. 660, 666–67, 82 S.Ct. 1417, 8 L.Ed.2d 758 (1962) )

Loggins v. Thomas

Finding Graham applies retroactively because it fit under the Teague exception for “new rules ‘prohibiting a certain category of punishment for a class of defendants because of their status or offense.’ ”

People v. Leon

Upholding an attempted murder conviction as to one passenger sitting in the line of fire of a single shot that killed another passenger, but overturning the conviction as to the passenger not in the line of fire

Jackson v. Norris

Declining to extend Roper and Graham to non-death sentences for juvenile homicide defendants and affirming dismissal of Jackson's state habeas petition

Section 706-656 - Terms of imprisonment for first and second degree murder and attempted first and second degree murder

Mandating life imprisonment without parole for individuals convicted of first-degree murder or first-degree attempted murder

Rule 4.425 - Factors affecting concurrent or consecutive sentences