John Edward Ralph v. Frank Blackburn, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary

This case involves the question whether the life sentence imposed upon the habeas corpus petitioner, John Edward Ralph, under the Louisiana habitual offender statute is so grossly disproportionate to the seriousness of his crimes that it violates the prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment provided by the eighth and fourteenth amendments. Before this Court, the petitioner raises an additional attack upon the statute based on recent decisions of the Supreme Court of Louisiana. We remand the case to the district court with instructions to dismiss the habeas corpus petition without…