The Latest: Judge stops juvenile lifer sentencing process

DETROIT – The Latest on a request to stop Michigan prosecutors from seeking new no-parole sentences for so-called juvenile lifers (all times local):

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3:40 p.m.

A judge has barred Michigan prosecutors from seeking new no-parole sentences for potentially hundreds of prisoners.

Federal Judge John Corbett O’Meara signed a restraining order Thursday and set a court hearing for July 28. He acted at the request of lawyers for 360 so-called juvenile lifers.

The lawyers said action was needed because of a July deadline for prosecutors to disclose whether they’ll again pursue tough sentences for people who were convicted of murder when they were teens.

In 2013, O’Meara said juvenile lifers must be given a parole hearing, likely their best chance at freedom. The state appealed, and a higher court recently sent the case back to O’Meara for more work.

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1:25 p.m.

A federal judge is being asked to step in and stop Michigan prosecutors from seeking new no-parole sentences for potentially hundreds of prisoners.

Attorneys say action is needed because there’s a July deadline for prosecutors to disclose whether they’ll again pursue tough sentences for people who were convicted of murder when they were teens — some decades ago.

A request for a restraining order was filed Wednesday.

This latest clash is a result of how Michigan is responding to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that said teens convicted of first-degree murder must be treated differently than adults.

In 2013, federal Judge John Corbett O’Meara said juvenile lifers must be given a parole hearing. The state appealed, and a higher court recently sent the case back to O’Meara for more work.