Story perspectives

Colorado Supreme Court's Ruling Risks Disproportionate Sentencing

12/30/2025

Summary

Story summary

The Colorado Supreme Court designates certain crimes as 'per se grave or serious,' hindering challenges to excessive sentences.
Colorado Supreme Court Justices Samour and Gabriel criticize the approach as oversimplified and fail to account for individual circumstances.
They warn the rule is arbitrary and applied inconsistently, risking disproportionate punishments.
People v. Kennedy offers some hope, but the shortcut still threatens fair punishment assessments in Colorado.

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Story summary

The Colorado Supreme Court designates certain crimes as 'per se grave or serious,' hindering challenges to excessive sentences.
Colorado Supreme Court Justices Samour and Gabriel criticize the approach as oversimplified and fail to account for individual circumstances.
They warn the rule is arbitrary and applied inconsistently, risking disproportionate punishments.
People v. Kennedy offers some hope, but the shortcut still threatens fair punishment assessments in Colorado.