Louisiana Supreme Court upholds Black man's life sentence for stealing hedge clippers more than 20..

[Michie]

...years ago

From the article.
The sentence was sanctioned under the state's habitual offender law

A life sentence handed down to a Black man for stealing a pair of hedge clippers more than two decades ago was upheld by the Louisiana Supreme Court last week.

Fair Wayne Bryant, 62, was convicted in 1997 for stealing the clippers and was subsequently given a life sentence, which was sanctioned under the state's habitual offender law. He appealed and the case eventually made its way to Louisiana's high court.

The panel -- composed of five White men and a Black woman -- upheld the punishment, 5-1.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson was the lone dissenter. In her dissent, Johnson called Bryant's sentence "excessive and disproportionate to the offense" while noting the high cost of keeping Bryant imprisoned.

Continued below.
Louisiana Supreme Court upholds Black man's life sentence for stealing hedge clippers more than 20 years ago

 

[public hermit]

See, this is the kind of thing that needs to change, yesterday. If the argument on the FOX site is accurate, this is a prime example of the kind of systemic issue that has its root in prejudice. Not acceptable. Not then, and certainly not today.

 

[Michie]

See, this is the kind of thing that needs to change, yesterday. If the argument on the FOX site is accurate, this is a prime example of the kind of systemic issue that has its root in prejudice. Not acceptable. Not then, and certainly not today.

I could not agree more. We have actual dangerous offenders out on the streets and people like Mr. Bryant languishing in prison over this type of thing.

 

[Michie]

Johnson called Bryant's sentence a "modern manifestation" of "pig laws," which were created following Reconstruction to severely criminalize African-Americans for petty theft.

"Pig Laws were largely designed to re-enslave African Americans," Johnson wrote. "And this case demonstrates their modern manifestation: harsh habitual offender laws that permit a life sentence for a Black man convicted of property crimes. This man’s life sentence for a failed attempt to steal a set of 3 hedge clippers is grossly out of proportion to the crime and serves no legitimate penal purpose."

 

[NotreDame]

...years ago

From the article.
The sentence was sanctioned under the state's habitual offender law

A life sentence handed down to a Black man for stealing a pair of hedge clippers more than two decades ago was upheld by the Louisiana Supreme Court last week.

Fair Wayne Bryant, 62, was convicted in 1997 for stealing the clippers and was subsequently given a life sentence, which was sanctioned under the state's habitual offender law. He appealed and the case eventually made its way to Louisiana's high court.

The panel -- composed of five White men and a Black woman -- upheld the punishment, 5-1.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Bernette Johnson was the lone dissenter. In her dissent, Johnson called Bryant's sentence "excessive and disproportionate to the offense" while noting the high cost of keeping Bryant imprisoned.

Continued below.
Louisiana Supreme Court upholds Black man's life sentence for stealing hedge clippers more than 20 years ago

Do you know the number of white offenders in Louisiana who have the same sentence for the kind of crimes you’d associate with stealing hedge clippers?

 

[Michie]

Do you know the number of white offenders in Louisiana who have the same sentence for the kind of crimes you’d associate with stealing hedge clippers?

I’m sure there is. That’s why we need some reform when it comes to the criminal justice system.

 

[Arcangl86]

Do you know the number of white offenders in Louisiana who have the same sentence for the kind of crimes you’d associate with stealing hedge clippers?

According to this, just shy of 80% of people imprisoned as habitual offenders are Black. https://s32082.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/0Z-Full-Jan-2020-BB-3.13.2020.pdf It doesn't go to the specifics of your question, but it does shed some light on it.