Allen Russell’s Life Sentence Without Parole Affirmed

In May 2021, we reported on the injustice of the Mississippi Court of Appeals affirming a life sentence without eligibility for probation or parole in the case of Allen Russell. Mr. Russell was found in possession of 43 grams (1.5 ounces) of marijuana. A legal basis for Mr. Russell’s brutal sentence was the fact that he had two prior felonies. Morally, however, the sentence was shocking and led to widespread outrage and condemnation.

Mr. Russell’s attorneys appealed his sentence to the Mississippi Supreme Court. The Pro Bono Committee of the International Cannabis Bar Association (“INCBA”) filed an amicus brief in support of Mr. Russell.

In May 2022, a majority of the Mississippi Supreme Court affirmed Mr. Russell’s life sentence without eligibility for probation or parole over the dissent of several justices. An appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States is Mr. Russell’s only avenue for relief.