Virginia Legislature Moots D.C. Sniper, Jr. Case

The Virginia Legislature has passed, and today the Governor signed, a bill creating the possibility of parole for anyone who commits any number of murders if the killer is even one day short of his eighteenth birthday at the time of the last crime.

Among the beneficiaries of this ill-considered legislation is Lee Malvo, the younger of the D.C. Sniper pair who murdered twelve people during their 2002 reign of terror. Malvo’s case is presently before the Supreme Court, but in light of the legislation the parties have stipulated for it to be dismissed.

Another case presenting the same issue is Newton v. Indiana, No. 17-1511. Newton’s petition for the Court to take the case up for full briefing and argument was filed almost two years ago. It has been on hold pending Malvo. I expect the Court to take it up now.

CJLF’s brief in Malvo is here.