The Arkansas Supreme Court has sent back to circuit court two cases involving inmates serving mandatory life in prison without parole for crimes they committed as juveniles.
The high court in its majority opinion said the circuit court failed in its ruling to address probable cause before ordering new sentences for Aaron Hodge and James Grubbs.
It considered whether they should receive new sentences in line with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2012 that barred mandatory life sentences for juveniles.
If the court later rules on retroactivity, it could impact the sentences of another 54 inmates serving such terms in the state.
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a Louisiana case arguing in favor of retroactivity later this year.
