Mich. Court Ruling Affects Habitual Offenders

LANSING, Mich. -- A divided Michigan Supreme Court has struck down precedent and ruled that criminals can be sentenced as habitual offenders if their felonies stem from the same criminal act. Wednesday's ruling affects a Wayne County man but could have wider implications on sentencing practices in the state. Four justices voted to overrule 1987 and 1990 cases in which the court said convictions arising from one criminal incident shouldn't be counted twice to give defendants habitual offender status and, as a result, potentially longer sentences. Two justices dissented, arguing lawmakers intended to give harsher sentences to persistent criminals, not those who commit multiple offenses in... [read full story]