Supreme Court decision not to review felony murder law ruling clears way for inmates seeking new sentences

The state Supreme Court decided not to review a San Diego appeals court ruling that upheld changes to the state felony-murder law, a decision that opens the door for thousands of inmates to seek lower sentences or, in some cases, freedom from prison.

The high court decided at its weekly conference Wednesday not to review a ruling issued last year by the 4th District Court of Appeal that rejected arguments from the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office that the law, known as SB 1437, was unconstitutional. Prosecutors contended the law passed by the Legislature in 2018 illegally changed two voter-approved initiatives, but the appeals court disagreed in a 2-1 decision.

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