No. 25-6025

Ledale Nathan v. Heather Cofer, Warden, et al.

Lower Court: Eighth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-11-04
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: None
Key Terms:
HabeasCorpus Punishment
Latest Conference: 2025-12-12
Question Presented (from Petition)

Mr. Nathan was sixteen years old at the time of his crimes. He was certified as an adult and tried for first degree murder and related offenses. He was initially sentenced to life in prison without parole as then required by Missouri law for the offense of first-degree murder. While his case was pending on appeal, this Court decided Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460 (2012) holding that mandatory sentences of life without parole violate the Eighth Amendment when imposed against a juvenile offender. Mr. Nathan was then resentenced. On jury resentencing he received multiple concurrent life sentences, which would have the effect of life in prison without parole. After affirmance on appeal, and denial of post-conviction relief, he filed a petition for federal habeas corpus. Relief and a certificate of appealability were denied. The case thus presents the following questions.

I. Whether a certificate of appealability should be issued to review the decision of the U.S. District Court that Mr. Nathan was not entitled to a jury trial under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 490 (2000), with respect to the issue of whether he should be certified for trial as an adult?

II. Whether a certificate of appealability should be issued to review the decision of the U.S. District Court that imposition of multiple consecutive sentences on a sixteen year old defendant involving one criminal event which constitute the functional equivalent of life without parole, does not violate Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005), Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48 (2010), and Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. 460 (2012)?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Question not identified.

Docket Entries

2025-12-15
Petition DENIED.
2025-11-26
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/12/2025.
2025-11-20
Waiver of right of respondent Heather Cofer to respond filed.
2025-10-29
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due December 4, 2025)
2025-09-24
Application (25A333) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until October 29, 2025.
2025-09-19
Application (25A333) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from September 29, 2025 to October 29, 2025, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.

Attorneys

Heather Cofer
Patrick Joseph LoganMissouri Attorney General's Office, Respondent
Heather Cofer, et al.
Louis Joseph Capozzi IIIMissouri Attorney General, Respondent
Ledale Nathan
Kathryn Bertel ParishCarlyle Parish, LLC, Petitioner