Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules life sentences without parole for second-degree murder unconstitutional
GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. IT IS 655. TIME FOR WGAL NEWS EIGHT TO GO. AND BOY DO WE HAVE A WARM DAY ON TAP. LET’S GO RIGHT OVER TO CHRISTINE. WE SURE DO. WE’RE TALKING ABOUT HIGHS IN THE MID 70S TODAY. RIGHT NOW WE’RE SEEING CLEARING SKIES AND WE’LL GET A SIZABLE AMOUNT OF SUNSHINE TODAY. THAT’S GOING TO HELP TO BOOST US TO 76 DEGREES ALONG WITH A BRISK SOUTHERLY BREEZE. SOUTH SOUTHWEST AT ABOUT 10 TO 20MPH. TEMPERATURES ALREADY WARM. WE’RE CLOSE TO OUR AVERAGE HIGHS FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. IT’S 50 IN HARRISBURG, 50 IN LEBANON, 53 DEGREES IN NEW YORK, 54. AND ON THE WAY UP IN CHAMBERSBURG. RIGHT NOW, WIND SPEEDS ABOUT 5 TO 15MPH. BUT REMEMBER THEY’LL BE 10 TO 20. IT WILL BE BREEZY THIS AFTERNOON. OUR TARGET HIGH IS 76 TODAY. TONIGHT RAIN MOVES IN. COULD BE HEAVY AT TIMES. YOU COULD HEAR SOME THUNDER TOO. TEMPERATURES OVERNIGHT WILL BE AROUND 52. AND THEN TOMORROW WE START AT 52 DEGREES. BUT TEMPERATURES GO DOWN INTO THE 40S. FROM THERE SHOWERS WILL TAPER AND IT WILL BE BREEZY. TOMORROW. WE’LL TALK ABOUT THE WEEKEND COMING UP. GOOD MORNING. I’M GABRIEL THOMAS HERE IN MECHANICSBURG AT MISSION CENTRAL. IT’S BEEN NEARLY TWO WEEKS SINCE HAWAII WAS HIT WITH SEVERE FLOODING, AND MISSION CENTRAL IS GEARING UP TO SEND THESE DONATIONS THAT YOU SEE HERE TO HELP REBUILD THE ISLAND. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN DONATING TO HELP THE ISLAND, YOU CAN DO SO FROM 9 TO 3 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. NEW THIS MORNING, YORK COUNTY REGIONAL POLICE SAY THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A MISSING WOMAN. THEY SAY 66 YEAR OLD COCO WAS LAST SEEN AROUND 1:00 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN SPRING GARDEN TOWNSHIP. OFFICERS SAY HER FAMILY REPORTED HER MISSING AFTER SHE WALKED AWAY FROM THEIR HOME. TAKE A LOOK AT TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW. THINGS ARE LOOKING GOOD. THE YELLOW ICONS ON YOUR MAP ARE ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE CLEARED, SO THE MAIN ARTERIES ARE NICE AND SMOOTH HERE. THIS IS 283 AT CLOVERLEAF ROAD IN LANCASTER COUNTY ON 23. LOOKING GREAT. SAME SITUATION ON 81 IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY. THIS IS NEAR WORKSPHERE ROAD. TAKING A LOOK NOW AT GAS PRICES AROUND THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY. THE STATE AVERAGE FOR A GALLON OF REGULAR STAYED THE SAME AGAIN OVERNIGHT. AVERAGE PRICES DID DROP A PENNY IN MIFFLIN AND LANCASTER COUNTY, AS IT ACTUALLY WENT DOWN $0.02 IN PERRY COUNTY, THE AVERAGE GALLON IS UP A PENNY IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, BUT IT’S STILL THE LOWEST IN THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY AT 378. PRICES ALSO DROPPED A PENNY IN DAUPHIN AND CUMBERLAND COUNTIES. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK AT USPS DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN MANHEIM TOWNSHIP, LANCASTER COUNTY. TO ADD A FIRST EVER FUEL SURCHARGE, A 8% CHARGE ON PACKAGES BECAUSE OF RISING GAS PRICES. IT SAYS THIS WILL BE A TEMPORARY PRICE CHANGE, AND IT ONLY APPLIES TO PACKAGES YOU MAIL, NOT LETTER MAIL. THAT FEE WOULD START THOUGH. APRIL 26TH. OTHER CARRIERS, INCLUDING UPS AND FEDEX, HAVE AUTOMATIC SURCHARGES THAT KICK IN WHEN GAS PRICES GO ABOVE CERTAIN THRESHOLDS. TODAY IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAMS WILL RECOGNIZE SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY. THE SCHOOL IS THE FIRST STATE OWNED UNIVERSITY TO BECOME AN OVERDOSE PREVENTION PARTNER. THE PROGRAM HELPS GET PEOPLE ACCESS TO THE OVERDOSE OVERDOSE REVERSAL DRUG NALOXONE, ALSO KNOWN AS NARCAN. THE SHAPIRO ADMINISTRATION SAYS SINCE 2023, THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 15,000 OVERDOSE REVERSALS USING THAT STATE, PROVIDED NALOXONE. TODAY, GOVERNOR SHAPIRO WILL ANNOUNCE THREE WORLD CUP FAN ZONES THAT ARE SET TO POP UP ACROSS THE STATE FOR THE WORLD CUP. PHILLY WILL BE HOSTING SOME GAMES THIS SUMMER AS WELL. THE FAN ZONES WILL BE A PLACE FOR FANS TO GO AND WATCH THOSE GAMES FOR FREE. HIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS AT 1030 THIS MORNING IN REDDING. IT IS OPENING DAY IN BASEBALL FOR THE ORIOLES, PHILLIES AND PIRATES. PITTSBURGH IS ON THE ROAD TODAY TO PLAY THE METS. THE ORIOLES AND PHILLIES ARE EACH AT HOME. THE O’S WILL HOST THE TWINS, WHILE THE PHILLIES PLAY THE RANGERS. CAN’T WAIT FOR THAT GAME. ALL RIGHT, TODAY, CENTRAL DAUPHIN HIGH SCHOOL HOLDS ITS CHAMPIONSHIP PARADE TO HONOR THE BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM. THE TEAM WON THE STATE TITLE THIS PAST WEEKEND AT GIANT CENTER IN HERSHEY. THE PARADE STARTS AT 115 AS WE HEAD TOWARD THE WEEKEND. IT’S THE LAST WEEKEND OF MARCH. IT’S GOING TO BE A DRY ONE. WE HAVE 46 DEGREES ON SATURDAY, SO IF YOU’RE DOING EASTER EGG HUNTS, THEN PARTLY SUNNY, BREEZY AND COOL. BUT SUNDAY, THE WARMER HALF OF THE WEEKEND MOSTLY SUNNY AND SEASONABLE WITH TEMPERATURES YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE AT THE END OF MARCH. HERE’S A LOOK AT OUR TEN DAY FORECAST, WHICH LOOKS INTO EARLY APRIL. AND BOY, IT’S GOING TO BE A WARM START TO THE MONTH. WE START OUT IN THE 70S AND THEN GET INTO THE 60S TOWARD THE END OF NEXT WEEK. EACH DAY HAS A RAIN CLOUD THERE, BUT I DON’T WANT YOU TO THINK ANY DAY IS A WASHOUT. I SEE A FEW SHOWERS MONDAY, TUESDAY, PERHAPS WEDNESDAY AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH AND THEN A COLD FRONT COMES IN AT THE END OF THE WEEK WITH A BETTER CHANCE OF RAIN, BUT OVERALL NEX
Pennsylvania Supreme Court rules life sentences without parole for second-degree murder unconstitutional
Updated: 11:45 AM EDT Mar 26, 2026
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that sentences of life without parole for second-degree murder are unconstitutional, staying its decision for 120 days to allow the legislature to consider changes to the law.Gov. Josh Shapiro released the following statement shortly after the ruling:”Today, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole for second degree murder are unconstitutional. “I have long believed this law is unjust and wrong. As Governor, I took legal action in this case arguing to strike down this sentencing framework.”Common sense and true justice dictate that we need different penalties for different conduct. For example, the getaway driver shouldn’t get the same sentence as the person who pulls the trigger.”Per the Supreme Court’s order, it is now time for the General Assembly to act and come up with a thoughtful, just process to address those who are serving life sentences for second degree murder.”LINK | Read the court’s full decision here.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that sentences of life without parole for second-degree murder are unconstitutional, staying its decision for 120 days to allow the legislature to consider changes to the law.
Gov. Josh Shapiro released the following statement shortly after the ruling:
“Today, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole for second degree murder are unconstitutional.
“I have long believed this law is unjust and wrong. As Governor, I took legal action in this case arguing to strike down this sentencing framework.
“Common sense and true justice dictate that we need different penalties for different conduct. For example, the getaway driver shouldn’t get the same sentence as the person who pulls the trigger.
“Per the Supreme Court’s order, it is now time for the General Assembly to act and come up with a thoughtful, just process to address those who are serving life sentences for second degree murder.”
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Today, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court ruled that mandatory life sentences without the possibility of parole for second degree murder are unconstitutional.
I have long believed this law is unjust and wrong. As Governor, I took legal action in this case arguing to strike down this…
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) March 26, 2026
LINK | Read the court’s full decision here.
This content is imported from Woobox.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
John Greim
Rockview Prison in Bellefonte, Pa.