- Posted December 04, 2014
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Supreme Court settles unusual birthday question
DETROIT (AP) - The Michigan Supreme Court says people turn 18 on their birthday, not the day before.
The court unanimously settled the unusual question Tuesday in the case of a young man convicted of murder. The fatal shooting occurred on Jan. 28, 2007, just a few hours before Deandre Woolfolk's 18th birthday.
Age is critical. Those convicted of first-degree murder in Michigan get a no-parole sentence if the killing occurred when they were 18. But someone under 18 could get a shorter sentence.
Under English common law, a new age is recognized on the day before a birthday, but the state Supreme Court says that won't be followed. Justices say an 18-year-old isn't 18 until the actual birthday.
Woolfolk will get a new sentence, although it still could be life in prison.
Published: Thu, Dec 04, 2014
headlines Oakland County
- Associations gather for Spring Fling
- Supreme Court denies rehearing request by attorneys sanctioned for meritless election lawsuit
- Law school conducts ‘Know Your Rights Day’ for high school students
- Oakland County household hazardous waste dropoff events promote environmental stewardship and safeguard communities
- Nessel testifies in support of BRITE Act
headlines National
- Incarceration series includes female inmates but doesn’t tell full story
- ACLU and BigLaw firm use ‘Orange is the New Black’ in hashtag effort to promote NY jail reform
- Former DOJ official who alleged election fraud violated at least one ethics rule, ethics committee says
- Winston & Strawn will provide reduced-cost legal services for routine tasks under Winston Legal Solutions umbrella
- Should Justice Sotomayor retire? Chemerinsky, White House haven’t joined calls for her to step down
- Which BigLaw firms are increasing lateral associate hiring the most? One made legal headlines last year