Between 1990 and 1999, the Supreme Court decided 54 criminal sentencing cases.  The Court sided with defendants in only one-third of those cases, finding against defendants 36 times.  Between 1990 and 1994, defendants won five cases and lost twelve.  Between 1995 and 1999, defendants won 13 cases and lost 24.

Defendants won only 22 of these cases at the Court of Appeal.  The Supreme Court affirmed only three of the twenty-two defense wins, reversing (in whole or in part) 19 times.  Between 1990 and 1994, the Court affirmed only one of eight cases.  Between 1995 and 1999, the Court affirmed twice and reversed in 12 cases.

The Court decided 31 criminal sentencing cases lost by defendants below.  It reversed, in whole or in part, in 15 cases, affirming 16 times.  Between 1990 and 1994, the Court reversed in four cases, affirming four times.  From 1995 to 1999, the Court reversed 11 times and affirmed in 12 cases.

Join us tomorrow as we continue our examination of the Court’s criminal sentencing voting record.

Image courtesy of Flickr by Conal Gallagher (no changes).