Miller V. Alabama Case Brief

The facts of Miller v. Alabama include a fourteen-year old named Evan Miller who beat and robbed his next-door neighbor, Cole Cannon. The date of the incident, Miller and his co-defendant, Colby Smith, went to Cannon’s home in search of drugs. When they found no drugs, they stole baseball cards and returned to Miller’s home. A few hours later, both Miller and Smith returned to Cannon’s home. Cannon was unconscious due to drinking and smoking, at which point Miller took $300.00 and Cannon’s driver’s license from Cannons wallet. As Miller was putting the wallet back in Cannon’s pocket, Cannon regained consciousness and attacked Miller, Smith hit Cannon with a bat, and Miller struck Cannon several times with the bat and his fists. Both defendants left then returned in attempt to …show more content…
Initially, Miller denied any wrongdoing, then later admitted and signed a statement admitting to everything except setting the fire. An additional investigation was performed of Cannon’s home and an additional autopsy was performed. The second autopsy ruled Cannon’s death because of smoke inhalation but added that his death was also due to multiple blunt force injuries and ethanol intoxication. Miller was arrested and sent to trial. A jury trial found Miller guilty of capital murder and gave him a mandatory sentence of life without parole. Miller’s defense attorney motioned for a new trial arguing that the sentence to life with parole violated Miller’s Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. The Circuit Court denied the initial motion, which led to appealing to the Alabama Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals held that Miller’s conviction was not unconstitutional despite his age. The utilitarian view of ethics places locus of right and wrong solely on the consequence of choosing one’s action or policy over actions or policies. This view moves beyond the scope of one’s own interest and takes in the interest of the people of