No. 25-5797

Leigha Page Ackerson v. Colorado

Lower Court: Colorado
Docketed: 2025-10-03
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: criminal-procedure felony-murder legislative-amendment life-without-parole proportionality-review sentencing
Latest Conference: 2025-11-07
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the procedure to affirm an LWOP sentence for felony murder under Senate Bill 21-124 is in the interest of justice despite non-retroactive amendments

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

1. Whether the procedure to affirm an LWOP sentence for felony murder once the Felony Murder bill 21-124 became effective is in the interest of justice, People v. Mcrae, Colo. 91 (2019) “even if the amendments do not apply retroactively. ”? 2. Should the court of appeals have relied on People v. Sellers, 2022 COA 102 to determine that a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for felony murder is not grossly disproportionate in light of the General Assembly ’s recent reclassification of the offense to a class 2 felony, not heeding the various factors that may be considered in a proportionality review determined by Wells-Yates v. People, 2019 CO 90, rather than Ms. Ackerson ’s case alone 1. Petitioner was sentenced Nov. 13, 2020 and the senate bill 21’124 became effective September of 2021. 2. Petitioner has no prior convictions or charges. ii

Docket Entries

2025-11-10
Petition DENIED.
2025-10-09
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/7/2025.
2025-10-06
Waiver of State of Colorado of right to respond submitted.
2025-10-06
Waiver of right of respondent State of Colorado to respond filed.
2025-06-24
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due November 3, 2025)

Attorneys

Leigha Ackerson
Leigha Page Ackerson — Petitioner
Leigha Page Ackerson — Petitioner
State of Colorado
Jillian Joy PriceColorado Attorney General's Office, Respondent
Jillian Joy PriceColorado Attorney General's Office, Respondent