People v. Edwards

Defendant, age 17 at time of offenses, was convicted, after stipulated bench trial, of first-degree murder and attempted murder. Defendant was sentenced to 50 years on murder charge, which exceeded statutory minimum by 5 years; and 40 years on attempted murder charge, which exceeded statutory minimum by 9 years. Defendant argues, on appeal, that mandatory minimum sentences are unconstitutional under U.S. Supreme Court decision prohibiting offenders under age 18 from receiving mandatory life sentences, but Defendant cannot argue that a sentence he did not actually receive is unconstitutional. Juvenile confession should not be suppressed simply because juvenile was denied opportunity to confer with concerned adult; and conflicting accounts as to whether he requested to speak with his mother.(HOLDRIDGE, concurring; WRIGHT, concurring in part and dissenting in part.)