Law that would reduce unfair sentences overturned by Louisiana Supreme Court.

The Louisiana Supreme Court recently overturned a law, backed by the state's district attorneys, that was intended to fix unnecessarily long sentences. The ruling was 5-4 in favor of overturning the law. In its majority decision, the court noted that the law was upending the decisions of the jury, prosecutor, and judge without any identifiable legal defect.

Jeff Landry, the Republican Attorney General of Louisiana, released a statement claiming the decision as a win for crime victims. He said, “This unconstitutional legislation resulted in some rapists and murderers receiving ‘get out of jail free’ cards. That recklessness ends now.”

Landry has been vocal in his opposition to the state's criminal justice reforms, even going so far as to challenge the law that was overturned by the Supreme Court. He has made it clear that he will not tolerate any sort of recklessness when it comes to enforcing the laws of the state.

The executive director of the New Orleans branch of the Innocence Project, Jee Park, released a statement disagreeing with the ruling but emphasizing the importance of prosecutors using their power to seek justice when it is necessary.

The habitual offender law in Louisiana allows prosecutors to increase sentences for those with prior felony convictions. It is intended to protect the public from violent criminals. However, critics of the law argue that it is used to target Black men unfairly.

One example of this is the case of Markus Lanieux, a Black man sentenced to life for a crime that typically results in a two-year sentence due to the habitual offender law. After negotiations were underway with the district attorney to reduce his sentence, the offer was pulled due to the case Landry filed with the Louisiana Supreme Court.

Speaking to reporters from Verite News and ProPublica via Zoom, Lanieux expressed his disappointment with the criminal justice system in Louisiana. He said, “I ain’t never thought a two-year sentence would turn into life. They just throw you away for any little thing.”

The recent decision by the Supreme Court of Louisiana has left many questioning the fairness of the criminal justice system in the state. It remains to be seen how this decision will affect the lives of those who are currently facing charges or who have already been convicted.

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