Ex Parte State of Alabama

The district attorney for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit filed this petition for a writ of mandamus directing Judge Eugene Reese to set aside his order granting A. J.’s application for treatment as a youthful offender under the Youthful Offender Act (“the YOA”).

In May 2002, A.J. was indicted for robbery in the first degree. He applied for youthful-offender treatment; his request was denied. A.J. then pleaded guilty, as an adult, to robbery in the second degree. He was sentenced on September 18, 2002, to five years’ imprisonment. That sentence was split and he was ordered to serve the first…