State of Iowa v. Damion John Seats

WIGGINS, Justice.

A juvenile offender convicted of first-degree murder appeals his resentencing to life in' prison without the possibility of parole. In this appeal, we determine the factors a court must use when it sentences a juvenile offender for first-degree murder. Because the district court did not have the benefit of this decision when it sentenced the juvenile, we vacate the sentence and remand for resentencing. We do not reach the issue as to whether a sentence of life in prison without parole categorically violates the Iowa Constitution’s prohibition against cruel and unusual…