Ferguson v. State

Summary

The Supreme Court of Delaware affirmed Ferguson's life sentence for first-degree murder by abuse or neglect and related child-abuse sentences. Because the sentences were authorized by statute, the court reviewed only whether the sentencing judge relied on impermissible or unreliable facts or acted with a closed, vindictive, or biased mind, and found no such error. The court concluded that the judge considered the extensive mitigation materials even though he was not persuaded by them.