U.S. Supreme Court Strikes Down California Sentencing Law

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today in the case of Cunningham v. California (case number 05-6551) that California's determinate sentencing law (DSL) violates a criminal defendant's right to trial by jury safeguarded by the Sixth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

For additional information:

• Court opinion: Cunningham v. California
• From FindLaw Legal News: News story on today's ruling
• From FindLaw's Writ: Legal commentary discussing issues involved in today's ruling.