New York Court of Appeals
The People of the State of New York, Appellant v. Angela C. Thompson, Respondent
March 30, 199483 N.Y.2d 477
Summary
The New York Court of Appeals reversed the Appellate Division and remanded for resentencing, holding that the mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to life for a Class A‑I drug felony is constitutionally permissible and that the trial court's lesser sentence of eight years to life does not violate the state or federal cruel and unusual punishment prohibitions. The Court relied on the proportionality analysis articulated in People v Broadie and affirmed the legislature’s authority to impose severe mandatory penalties.