People of Michigan v. Adam Ferguson
Court
Michigan Court of Appeals
Decided
August 12, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Importance
45%
Practice Areas
Case Summary
If this opinion indicates that it is “FOR PUBLICATION,” it is subject to revision until final publication in the Michigan Appeals Reports. STATE OF MICHIGAN COURT OF APPEALS PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, UNPUBLISHED August 12, 2025 Plaintiff-Appellee, 1:56 PM v No. 356714 Saginaw Circuit Court ADAM FERGUSON, also known as ADAM LC No. 91-004624-FC FERGERSON, Defendant-Appellant. Before: YATES, P.J., and YOUNG and WALLACE, JJ. YATES, P.J. (concurring). Defendant was sentenced for a wide variety of crimes he committed in January 1991, when he was 17 years old. Defendant’s concurrent sentences for a collection of violent crimes were not especially lengthy, but his convictions for quotidian drug offenses resulted in consecutive terms of imprisonment that extended his earliest release date from prison to October 8, 2047. Because that aggregate term of imprisonment cannot withstand a challenge under the constitutional prohibition of “cruel or unusual punishment” in Const 1963, art 1, § 16, insofar as it is not “something that is reasonably possible for . . . defendant actually to serve,” People v Moore, 432 Mich 311, 329; 439 NW2d 684 (1989), I join my colleagues in affording relief to defendant. But I write separately to describe the perils of invoking the proscription of “cruel or unusual punishment” to set universally applicable limits on indeterminate sentences, which under established precedent must be tailored in each case to the offender and the offense. See, e.g., id. I. LEGAL BACKGROUND In most felony cases in Michigan, if incarceration is ordered, the sentencing court imposes either a jail term or an indeterminate prison sentence. To establish the lower and upper boundaries of an indeterminate prison sentence, the sentencing court must consider sentencing guidelines that our Legislature has prescribed in setting the minimum prison term, and then mechanically set the maximum term of imprisonment just as our Legislature has defined it. The minimum prison term selected by the sentencing court determines the defendant’s earliest release date from prison. Thus, the sentencing court has a great deal of latitude in choosing the minimum prison term, and thereby -1- dictating the defendant’s earliest release date, but virtually no discretion in setting the maximum term of imprisonment. A sentencing court does not have unfettered discretion in choosing a minimum prison term. First, a sentencing court must be informed by a correctly scored sentencing guidelines range, and an incorrect scoring decision on a sentencing guidelines variable ordinarily warrants resentencing. People v Francisco, 474 Mich 82, 89-91; 711 NW2d 44 (2006). Second, its sentence must satisfy the “principle of proportionality,” which mandates consideration of both the nature of the offense and the background of the offender. See People v Steanhouse, 500 Mich 453, 472-473; 902 NW2d 327 (2017). Third, because of a constitutional imperative, a sentencing court cannot impose a term of imprisonment that constitutes “cruel or unusual punishment.” See Const 1963, art 1, § 16. The universe of sentences characterized as “cruel or unusual punishment” expanded in the wake of the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Miller v Alabama, 567 US 460; 132 S Ct 2455; 183 L Ed 2d 407 (2012), which held that the imposition of a mandatory prison term of life without parole on a juvenile “violates the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on ‘cruel and unusual punishments.’ ” Id. at 465. Ten years after the ruling in Miller, our Supreme Court combined that holding with an analysis of the Michigan Constitution’s ban on “cruel or unusual punishment” and its own opinion in People v Bullock, 440 Mich 15; 485 NW2d 866 (1992),1 to hold that a term of imprisonment of life with the possibility of parole for second-degree murder imposed on a juvenile constitutes “cruel or unusual punishment” in contravention of Const 1963, art 1, § 16. See People v Stovall, 510 Mich 301, 307-308; 987 NW2d 85 (2022). Significantly, however, those cases did not involve indeterminate sentences like the one at issue in the instant case. Relying on the ruling in Stovall, this Court recently decided that an indeterminate sentence of 50 to 75 years’ imprisonment for second-degree murder imposed upon a 16-year-old defendant was “invalid for two related but distinct reasons: it violates the Michigan Constitution’s prohibition of cruel or unusual punis
Case Details
Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
August 12, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
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Case Summary
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Case Overview
In the case of People of Michigan v. Adam Ferguson, the Michigan Court of Appeals addressed critical issues surrounding juvenile sentencing and the constitutionality of lengthy prison terms for crimes committed by minors. The court's ruling, issued on August 12, 2025, emphasizes the importance of proportionality in sentencing, particularly for juvenile offenders.
Legal Issues
The court examined several key legal questions:
- Whether the defendant's sentences constitute 'cruel or unusual punishment' under the Michigan Constitution.
- Determination of proportionate sentences for the defendant, highlighting the appellate court's limited role in reviewing sentencing decisions.
Factual Background
- The defendant, Adam Ferguson, was 17 years old at the time of his offenses, invoking special constitutional protections against harsh punishment.
- His aggregate term of imprisonment raises significant concerns, with an earliest release date set for October 8, 2047.
Court's Analysis
The court's reasoning included:
- The aggregate term of imprisonment was deemed excessively long and unconstitutional, violating the Michigan Constitution's prohibition against cruel or unusual punishment.
- The principle of proportionality was emphasized, necessitating that sentences reflect the nature of the offense and the offender's background.
- The appellate court acknowledged its limitations in assessing the nuances of sentencing, deferring to the trial court's discretion in determining appropriate sentences based on trial observations.
Holdings and Decision
The court's rulings included:
- The sentences imposed on Adam Ferguson were vacated and the case was remanded for resentencing.
- The appellate court affirmed the trial court's discretion in determining proportionate sentences, emphasizing that it would not intervene in the trial court's sentencing decisions.
Legal Precedents
The court cited several important precedents:
- People v Moore, 432 Mich 311; 439 NW2d 684 (1989): Establishes the constitutional prohibition against cruel or unusual punishment, emphasizing individualized consideration in sentencing.
- Miller v Alabama, 567 US 460; 132 S Ct 2455 (2012): Prohibits mandatory life without parole for juveniles, highlighting the need for consideration of mitigating factors.
- People v Stovall, 510 Mich 301; 987 NW2d 85 (2022): Reiterates the prohibition against life sentences for juveniles without considering mitigating factors.
- People v Eads, ___ Mich App ___; ___ NW3d ___ (2025): Addresses the constitutionality of indeterminate sentences for juveniles, critiqued for adopting a rigid cap on such sentences.
Practical Implications
This ruling has significant implications for legal practice, particularly in the areas of Criminal Law, Juvenile Law, and Constitutional Law. It reinforces the necessity for trial courts to consider the individual circumstances of juvenile offenders when imposing sentences, ensuring that penalties are not excessively harsh or disproportionate. The decision also sets a precedent for future juvenile sentencing cases, emphasizing the importance of proportionality and individualized assessments in the judicial process.
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Case Details
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Status
Decided
Date Decided
August 12, 2025
Jurisdiction
SA
Court Type
federal
Legal Significance
Case importance metrics
Metadata
Additional information
Quick Actions
Case management tools