Blakely v. Washington
United States Supreme Court
542 U.S. 296 (2004)
Relevant factsFree
Blakely (defendant) pleaded guilty to second-degree kidnapping under a plea agreement recommending a sentence within Washington's 49-to-53-month standard range. The judge instead imposed a 90-month "exceptional sentence" after finding, at a separate bench proceeding, that Blakely acted with "deliberate cruelty." Blakely argued this violated his right to have a jury find, beyond a reasonable doubt, any fact essential to his sentence.
IssueFree
Whether any fact that increases a criminal penalty beyond the prescribed statutory maximum must be submitted to a jury and proved beyond a reasonable doubt.