Ex Parte Jimmy Williams, Jr. (in Re: Jimmy Williams, Jr. v. State of Alabama)

Summary

The court vacated the Court of Criminal Appeals' judgment affirming dismissal of Jimmy Williams, Jr.'s collateral challenge to his mandatory life-without-parole sentence for a murder committed at age 15. Applying the rule that mandatory juvenile life without parole violates the Eighth Amendment and that this rule applies retroactively on collateral review, the court held that Williams was entitled to a new sentencing hearing. The parties agreed that relief was required, and the court remanded directly to the circuit court for proceedings consistent with those constitutional requirements.