People v. Wilson

This case presents question as to whether trial court properly denied defendant’s motion to file successive petition for post-conviction relief, where defendant argued that his 59-year sentence for his 1st degree murder and attempted armed robbery convictions violated 8th Amendment. Defendant argued that his juvenile status and his de facto life sentence required sentencing court to reconsider his sentence in light of Miller, 567 U.S. 460. Appellate Court, in reversing trial court, found that defendant had established cause and prejudice to raise 8th Amendment challenge to his de facto life sentence in instant successive post-conviction petition because trial court did not consider fact that defendant was 14 years old at time of charged offenses and other related circumstances when it sentenced defendant to 59 years imprisonment.