Opinion ID: 2640200
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: Cunningham v. California

Text: Turning to sentencing issues, Johnson contends K.S.A. 21-4704(e)(1) violates the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. He argues the sentencing judge was required to impose the middle term within the presumptive grid block, unless the judge stated aggravating factors on the record for imposing the longer sentence. Based upon Cunningham v. California, 549 U.S. 270, 127 S.Ct. 856, 166 L.Ed.2d 856 (2007), he further argues the maximum sentence that the statute authorizes for his convictions is the middle term in the sentencing block and any factors that would increase a sentence beyond that middle term must be submitted to a jury and determined beyond a reasonable doubt. Thus, Johnson claims he was given illegal sentences and requests his case be remanded for resentencing. The State counters that the Kansas sentencing guidelines give a sentencing judge discretion to impose any term within the presumptive range found in a particular grid block, distinguishing K.S.A. 21-4704 from the provisions of the California penal code that were ruled unconstitutional in Cunningham.