By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Attorney General's office is facing off with legislators in a Supreme Court battle over a three-year old amendment. The amendment could shorten the sentences of many long-term prisoners in the state. Solicitor General Michael Billingsley argued in front of the high court Tuesday that the amendment was too vague and confusing and should be thrown out. But Montgomery attorney Bryan Stevenson insisted that lawmakers were trying to relieve prison overcrowding by allowing judges to review old habitual offender cases. He says no cases have been reviewed under the legislation during the last three years...and he says the amendment also made retroactive an earlier amendment that allows lighter sentences.