Opinion ID: 2546480
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Is Kansas' Hard 50 Sentencing Scheme Unconstitutional?

Text: Buehler-May's next argument on appeal is that the Kansas hard 50 sentencing scheme is unconstitutional because it does not afford criminal defendants their right to have a jury determine beyond a reasonable doubt all facts which might increase the maximum penalty for first-degree murder. Buehler-May recognizes that this court has already rejected this argument but raises the issue to preserve it for federal review. Buehler-May's challenge to the hard 50 sentencing scheme is based on the holding of Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 147 L. Ed. 2d 435, 120 S. Ct. 2348 (2000). This court addressed a similar challenge to the hard 40 sentencing scheme in State v. Conley, 270 Kan. 18, 11 P.3d 1147 (2000), cert. denied 532 U.S. 932 (2001), concluding that the sentencing statutes were not unconstitutional because the hard 40 sentence did not increase the maximum length of Conley's life sentence but limited the lower end of the sentence in a manner consistent with McMillan v. Pennsylvania, 477 U.S. 79, 91 L. Ed. 2d 67, 106 S. Ct. 2411 (1986) (facts that do not increase defendant's punishment beyond that authorized by the underlying statute need not be proven to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt). In State v. Douglas, 274 Kan. 96, 111, 49 P.3d 446 (2002), cert. denied 537 U.S. 1198 (2003), this court relied on Conley in holding that the hard 50 sentencing scheme is constitutional. The court reaffirmed that ruling in State v. Boldridge, 274 Kan. 795, 812, 57 P.3d 8, cert. denied 538 U.S. 950 (2003); State v. Hebert, 277 Kan. 61, 107-08, 82 P.3d 470 (2004); and subsequent cases. Buehler-May has cited no new authority post-dating those cases which might convince this court to alter its position. Buehler-May contends that the Apprendi majority is likely to revisit the McMillan decision in the future. However, the State points out that the United States Supreme Court recently did so in Blakely v. Washington, 542 U.S. ___, 159 L. Ed. 2d 403, 124 S. Ct. 2531 (2004), and distinguished McMillan rather than overruling it. We recently determined in State v. Hurt, 278 Kan. 676, 101 P.3d 1249 (2004), that Blakely does not affect this court's analysis in Conley and, once again, we reaffirm that conclusion.