Opinion
SC: 149628
10-28-2015
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LEWIS TIMOTHY EARNEST, Defendant-Appellant.
Order
Robert P. Young, Jr., Chief Justice Stephen J. Markman Brian K. Zahra Bridget M. McCormack David F. Viviano Richard H. Bernstein Joan L. Larsen, Justices COA: 321095
Jackson CC: 13-004362-FJ
By order of November 25, 2014, the application for leave to appeal the May 14, 2014 order of the Court of Appeals was held in abeyance pending the decision in People v Lockridge (Docket No. 149073). On order of the Court, the case having been decided on July 29, 2015, 498 Mich 358 (2015), the application is again considered. Pursuant to MCR 7.305(H)(1), in lieu of granting leave to appeal, we REMAND this case to the Jackson Circuit Court to determine whether the court would have imposed a materially different sentence under the sentencing procedure described in Lockridge. On remand, the trial court shall follow the procedure described in Part VI of our opinion. If the trial court determines that it would have imposed the same sentence absent the unconstitutional constraint on its discretion, it may reaffirm the original sentence. If, however, the trial court determines that it would not have imposed the same sentence absent the unconstitutional constraint on its discretion, it shall resentence the defendant.
We do not retain jurisdiction.
I, Larry S. Royster, Clerk of the Michigan Supreme Court, certify that the foregoing is a true and complete copy of the order entered at the direction of the Court.
October 28, 2015
/s/_________
Clerk