People v. White

Summary

The court held that a knowing and voluntary open or blind guilty plea does not waive a constitutional challenge to the sentence when the plea contains no agreement concerning the sentence. Nevertheless, the court concluded that the petitioner failed to state a meritorious as-applied proportionate-penalties claim because his 40-year sentence was proportionate to the serious offense and the sentencing court considered his youth and rehabilitative potential. The court therefore affirmed both lower-court judgments on grounds different from those relied on by the appellate court.