Supreme Court of South Carolina
Anthony A. Jones, ll v. State
June 21, 2023
Summary
The South Carolina Supreme Court held that Anthony Jones properly raised a post‑conviction claim challenging the constitutionality of S.C. Code §63‑19‑20(1) and that the statute is constitutional under the Eighth Amendment. The Court further ruled that circuit courts must consider the youth‑mitigating factors identified in Aiken v. Byars when sentencing juveniles, but a separate Aiken hearing is not required. The decision affirmed the sentences in part and reversed the PCR court’s dismissal in part.