State v. Miller
Annotate this CaseAfter successfully appealing his conviction for first degree murder and use of a weapon to commit a felony, Appellant pled guilty upon remand to manslaughter and use of a weapon to commit a felony. Appellant asserted that the second judge was vindictive because of Appellant's successful appeal and, thus, imposed a harsher sentence for the weapons conviction in violation of Appellant's due process rights. At issue was whether the presumption of vindictiveness applies when a different judge gives a greater sentence after the defendant successfully appeals. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding (1) a vindictiveness presumption does not apply when there is a different sentencing judge after a successful appeal; and (2) furthermore, the second district court judge did not act with actual vindictiveness.
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