宾夕法尼亚州议会已错过7月24日的法律修改截止日期，未能按照州最高法院的要求调整二级谋杀罪的量刑制度[1]。该州最高法院于2024年3月裁定现有的强制终身监禁量刑违反州宪法，并给予议会四个月的期限提出解决方案[1]。随着截止日期的临近，法院的这项裁决现已生效[1]。
目前，州参众两院提出了各自的修订方案但未达成一致[1]。州参议院的SB 1400提案规定建立35年的强制最低刑期，已服刑者在满35年后获得假释资格[1]；而州众议院的HB 1042提案则不设固定最低刑期，规定犯人30年后获得假释资格，并增设医疗假释条款[1]。在影响范围方面，目前仅有二级谋杀罪案件上诉人Derek Lee有资格立即获得重新量刑[1]，其他已服刑者需要通过逐个上诉程序争取救济，这一过程预计需要数年时间[1]。
Pennsylvania's legislature has allowed a court-imposed deadline to pass without enacting changes to second-degree murder sentencing laws. The state's Supreme Court ruled in March 2024 that mandatory life sentences for second-degree murder violate the state constitution and ordered lawmakers to modify the sentencing statute by July 24, 2024.[1] With that deadline now expired and no legislative compromise reached, the court's ruling has taken effect.[1]
The two chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature have proposed competing solutions. The state Senate advanced SB 1400, which would establish a mandatory minimum sentence of 35 years, after which previously sentenced individuals would become eligible for parole.[1] The House countered with HB 1042, which would eliminate a fixed minimum sentence, allow parole eligibility after 30 years, and create an additional medical parole option.[1] Despite these separate proposals, the chambers have failed to reach agreement on a compromise measure.
The immediate impact of the court's decision remains limited. Currently, only Derek Lee, a second-degree murder appellant, qualifies for resentencing under the ruling.[1] Other individuals already serving sentences will need to pursue resentencing through individual appeals, a process expected to span several years.[1]