People v. Williams

This case presents question as to whether trial court properly dismissed at first stage defendant’s pro se petition for post-conviction relief that challenged his mandatory life sentence on first-degree murder charges, even though defendant asserted that his sentence was unconstitutional as applied to him, where: (1) he was found guilty on five counts of first degree murder; (2) he was 22 years old at time of charged offenses; and (3) trial court did not properly consider his youth and immaturity at time he committed said offenses. Appellate Court, in affirming trial court, rejected defendant’s claim that his post-conviction petition alleged sufficient gist of constitutional claim that rationale of U.S. Supreme Court decision in Miller, 567 U.S. 460, should be applied to him as 22-year-old, so as to allow his petition to proceed to its merits. App. Ct. further observed that statute mandating life sentence for instant multiple murders for individuals over 21 years old did not shock moral sense of community. (Dissent filed.)