ÿWPC… ãLëyÂ"™ÐY­Éß_Ÿô…ZΖ%‘º¿äŸ”méPCïI=XºòJò“ ™êóXô˃»Zú·ÝŽýp3Ç7F}|YDˆìi¿r‚†(…f4åÖpkS³oî#G £ß&[UOjK‘*¥N³÷Lb9\/—‘Ÿš¤ûЧE‹ ‰rÉmöKu86s!Ìä”`óSú -=`‡'¬peÙòqS¾ãOëeM“þ˜¤btA²É¯Ùø9×­‚ 7!ܰl+#ÈýqŸÑ‘–drý~q:îÞü¤ÃÌTF‘#A¾¦ÒK4þ?ÉC“æžD·§þ©ÛÞÁ(ý‘X4ˆ=±2W¿óõÎ"ÚH·ið~‹ “`&ÆZ‡©Kéô?6‰h€l©,׿ˆQõfê”Lní+Ä[s~=®ìXa¸´ÃÊ‹Vׄĥõ˜ý½‹`Á¿àNÄvÄ–vÄV‹£ÙŽŠ/.¤ þâo^U©\„(~…÷ͲîQ>®Âu3‡y}“NX“C¡°§¨„/ßhhã|û¸~ 4\‡,× ~#M2^/üæ})B•÷H –Ö¾2ço^ÿaö}¢@“(»òe‘.4¯9h[W˜”†É‰Egþåb %\^ b 0ˆnUNöwD4H\ zkÒå· m¹ #ÁÐ ‘ Æ™ Æ_ Æ% Æë 0D±Nõõ3÷E*j,-–– 0¤ÃÃÃÃggggggggggggggggbzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 0ë‚‚‚‚ Bmm 0¤Š D3. D-a 0KŽŽ ASÙÆ, 0¤ò 0D– A«Ú»ùs5)â (`£ª$¡¡Ñ€.ÑÑ8€½­»»d»»d8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  Ó(í€"  Z6Times New Roman RegularŠ~&)bk3´¦Õ3|x ˜C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wptÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ˜HP LaserJet 4050 Series PCL 5eÈÈ,,,,ÈÈ0 Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5‚Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5„Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5…Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó )Ý ƒR؇$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÔ€XUX»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€ô­eòXXUÔ€€This€ruling€does€not€affect€Stephensonððs€separate€conviction€and€60„year€sentence€for€the€offense€ofÐ ° Ðconspiracy€to€commit€first„degree€murder.€€Contrary€to€Stephensonððs€assertion€in€this€matter,€this€Court€remanded€bothÐ tÄ Ðthe€first„degree€murder€and€conspiracy€convictions€for€further€proceedings€following€the€direct€appeal.€€òòStephensonóó,€878Ð 8ˆ ÐS.W.2d€at€556„57.€€Moreover,€although€Stephenson€did€not€raise€this€issue€in€the€trial€court,€we€note€that€the€sentenceÐ üL Ðimposed€for€the€conspiracy€was€not€void€or€illegal.€€òòSeeóó€òòMcConnellóó,€12€S.W.3d€at€798. `Ý ƒR؇$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÔ€XUX»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€Ô€ô­eòXXUÔThe€Post„Conviction€Procedure€Act€states€that€a€petition€must€be€filed€ð ðwithin€one€(1)€year€of€the€date€of€theÐ ° Ðfinal€action€of€the€highest€state€appellate€court€to€which€an€appeal€is€taken,€or€if€no€appeal€is€taken,€within€one€(1)€yearÐ œì Ðof€the€date€on€which€the€judgment€became€final,€or€consideration€of€such€petition€shall€be€barred.ðð€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ððÐ `° Ð40„30„202(a)€(Supp.€1996). #Ñ#€CXÿÿd#Ñ(|3¿q$©©Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý Ý ƒR؇$ÝÓ  Óà  àòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÔ€XUX»»ÔÝ  ÝÔ_Ô€€Ô€ô­eòXXUÔThe€trial€court€instructed€the€jury€that€to€impose€a€death€sentence,€it€must€find€that€evidence€of€aggravatingÐ ° Ðcircumstances€must€outweigh€mitigating€evidence.€€The€applicable€statute€required,€however,€that€the€evidence€ofÐ œì Ðaggravating€circumstances€outweigh€mitigating€evidence€ð ðòòbeyond€a€reasonable€doubt.óóðð€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€€39„13„Ð `° Ð204(g)(2)(B)€(1991)€(emphasis€added).€€Moreover,€the€jury€was€given€an€invalid€verdict€form€that€did€not€accuratelyÐ $t Ðreflect€the€law€in€this€regard.€€òòStephensonóó,€878€S.W.2d€at€555„56.- ù-(|G2؇$¤¤Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóÔ€XUX»»Ô d(|3¿q$££Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝVVVV'ÿÿdxd)!ÈÈÈÈdxdx( ±þ$’’ò òFigure€Ú  Ú1Ú  Úó ó^_X`YEþÿ<<CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5(|3¿q$¢¢Ý ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€»»dd8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  Ý($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó óX[Z&OLE 2.0 Box <=8ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿCÿÿ HKKKKÝ ƒ£ª!ÝÑ€.ÑÑ8€»»ddÈ8ÑÑ ý ÑÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÔ€¼»»»ÔÑ€û#ÑÑ  Ñà@7 7 ìàIN€THE€SUPREME€COURT€OF€TENNESSEEˆÐ ° Ðà@””$ìàAT€KNOXVILLEˆÐ  Ðà@ß ß ìàMay€2000€Session,€Heard€at€NashvilleˆÐ Ô$ ÐÔ‡XUX»¼Ôà  àÌò òÔ#†¼»XXU#ÔÓ  ÓJONATHAN€STEPHENSON€v.€HOWARD€CARLTON,€WARDENÔ‡XUX»¼Ô,€ET€AL.ó óÐ Ò" ÐÓâÓÌà@  ìàò òAppeal€by€Permission€from€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€ˆÐ Ò " Ðà@ã ã ìàCriminal€Court€for€Johnson€CountyˆÐ ¾  Ðà@á á ìàNo.€€3207€€€€€€Lynn€W.€Brown,€JudgeˆÐ ª ú ÐÌÌà@ìì*ìàßA€V) °°` d€÷E<m` A߈Ð n¾  ÐÌà@u u ìàNo.€E1998„00202„SC„R11„CD€„€Filed€September€21,€Ô_Ô2000Ô_ԈРi¹  ÐÌßA€V) °°` dE<@` AßÐ A‘  Ðó óÌÌÔ#†¼»XXU#ÔÔ€XUX»¼ÔWe€granted€this€appeal€to€determine€whether€the€appellantððs€sentence€of€life€without€parole€for€first„Ð (x Ðdegree€murder€was€an€illegal€sentence€and,€if€so,€whether€the€appellant€was€entitled€to€habeas€corpusÐ d Ðrelief.€€The€trial€court€dismissed€the€petition€for€habeas€corpus€and€the€Court€of€Criminal€AppealsÐ P Ðaffirmed.ò ò€€ó ó€We€conclude,€and€the€State€concedes,€that€the€sentence€of€life€without€parole€was€not€aÐ ì< Ðstatutorily€authorized€punishment€at€the€time€the€appellant€committed€the€offense€of€first„degreeÐ Ü, Ðmurder€and€that€the€illegal€sentence€was€properly€challenged€in€a€habeas€corpus€petition.€€We€reverseÐ È Ðthe€judgment€of€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€and€remand€the€case€to€the€trial€court€for€furtherÐ ´ Ðproceedings.ò òÐ  ð ÐÌà@DDìàTenn.€R.€App.€11€Appeal€by€Permission;€Judgment€of€the€à@@ll ìàCourt€of€CriminalˆÐ xÈ Ðà@ ìàAppeals€Reversed;€Case€Remanded€to€Trial€Courtó óˆÐ d´ ÐÌòòE.€Riley€Anderson,€C.óó€J.,€delivered€the€opinion€of€the€court,€in€which€òòFrank€F.€Ô_ÔDrowotaÔ_Ô,€III,Ð <Œ ÐÔ_ÔAdolphoÔ_Ô€A.€Birch,€Jr.,€Janice€M.€Holder,óó€and€òòWilliam€M.€Barker,€JJ.óó,€joined.Ð ( x ÐÌJohn€E.€Ô_ÔHerbisonÔ_Ô,€Nashville,€Tennessee,€for€the€appellant,€Jonathan€Stephenson.Ð "P! ÐÌPaul€G.€Summers,€Attorney€General€&€Reporter;€Michael€E.€Moore,€Solicitor€General;€KathyÐ Ø#(# ÐÔ_ÔMoranteÔ_Ô,€Deputy€Attorney€General;€and€Joe€C.€Ô_ÔCrumleyÔ_Ô,€Jr.,€District€Attorney€General,€for€theÐ Ä$ $ Ðappellee,€State€of€Tennessee.Ð °%!% ÐÌÌà@66'ìàò òOPINIONó óˆÐ t(Ä#( ÐÌòòóóà  àWe€granted€this€appeal€to€determine€whether€the€appellantððs€sentence€of€life€without€paroleÐ L*œ%* Ðfor€first„degree€murder€was€an€illegal€sentence€and,€if€so,€whether€the€appellant€was€entitled€toÐ 8+ˆ&+ Ðhabeas€corpus€relief.Ð $,t', ÐÐ -`(-ý? ÐÑû#Ñâ âÑ8€UXXdì»»d8Ñâ âÑ  ÑÔ_Ôà  àThe€trial€court€dismissed€the€petition€for€habeas€corpus.€€The€Court€of€Criminal€AppealsÐ ° Ðaffirmed€the€dismissal€after€concluding€that€the€petition€did€not€state€a€basis€for€habeas€corpus€reliefÐ œì Ðand€that€the€petition,€if€treated€as€a€suit€for€post„conviction€relief,€was€barred€by€the€statute€ofÐ ˆØ Ðlimitations.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð tÄ ÐÌà  àAfter€reviewing€applicable€authority,€we€conclude,€and€the€State€of€Tennessee€concedes,€thatÐ L œ Ðthe€sentence€of€life€without€parole€was€not€a€statutorily€authorized€punishment€at€the€time€theÐ 8 ˆ Ðappellant€committed€the€offense€of€first„degree€murder.€€The€sentence€was,€therefore,€illegal€andÐ $ t Ðproperly€challenged€in€a€habeas€corpus€petition.€€Accordingly,€we€reverse€the€judgment€of€the€CourtÐ  ` Ðof€Criminal€Appeals€and€remand€the€case€to€the€trial€court€for€further€proceedings.€€Our€holding€doesÐ ü L  Ðnot,€however,€affect€the€appellantððs€separate€conviction€and€60„year€sentence€for€the€offense€ofÐ è 8  Ðconspiracy€to€commit€first„degree€murder.Ð Ô$  ÐÌÌà@%ìàòòò òBACKGROUNDóóˆÐ ˜è  ÐÌó óà  àThe€appellant,€Jonathan€Stephenson,€was€convicted€of€first„degree€murder€and€conspiracyÐ pÀ Ðto€commit€first„degree€murder€in€1990.€€The€jury€imposed€a€sentence€of€death€for€the€first„degreeÐ \¬ Ðmurder€conviction€and€the€trial€court€imposed€a€consecutive€25„year€sentence€for€the€conspiracyÐ H˜ Ðconviction.€€Ð 4„ ÐÌà  àThis€Court€affirmed€both€convictions€on€appeal,€but€remanded€for€resentencing€due€to€aÐ  \ Ðfundamental€error€that€occurred€in€the€sentencing€phase€of€trial,€which€rendered€the€juryððs€verdictÐ øH Ða€nullity.€€òòState€v.€Stephensonóó,€878€S.W.2d€530,€556€(Tenn.€1994)׃È×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×.€€On€remand,€the€parties€reachedÐ ä4 Ðan€agreement€by€which€Stephenson€was€sentenced€to€life€without€parole€for€the€first„degree€murderÐ Ð  Ðoffense€and€to€60€years€for€the€conspiracy€offense.€€In€1998,€Stephenson€filed€this€habeas€corpus€suitÐ ¼  Ðchallenging,€among€other€grounds,€the€sentence€of€life€without€parole.Ð ¨ø ÐÌÌà@òò&ìàò òòòANALYSISóóˆÐ l¼ Ðó óÌà@YY$ìàò òòòHabeas€Corpusóóó óˆÐ D!” ÐÐ 0"€  Ðà  àThe€grounds€upon€which€habeas€corpus€relief€is€warranted€are€narrow.€€The€writ€will€issueÐ ° Ðonly€when€it€appears€upon€the€face€of€the€judgment€or€the€record€of€the€proceedings€upon€which€theÐ œì Ðjudgment€is€rendered€that€a€court€lacked€jurisdiction€or€authority€to€sentence€a€defendant€or€that€theÐ ˆØ Ðsentence€has€expired.€€òòArcher€v.€Stateóó,€851€S.W.2d€157,€164€(Tenn.€1993).€€A€habeas€corpus€petitionÐ tÄ Ðmay€be€used€to€challenge€judgments€that€are€void€and€not€merely€voidable.€€òòIdóó.;€òòTaylor€v.€Stateóó,€995Ð `° ÐS.W.2d€78,€83€(Tenn.€1999).€€€€Ð L œ ÐÌà  àA€void€judgment€ð ðis€one€in€which€the€judgment€is€facially€invalid€because€the€court€lackedÐ $ t Ðjurisdiction€or€authority€to€render€the€judgment€or€because€the€defendantððs€sentence€has€expired.ðð€Ð  ` ÐòòId.óó€€òòóóWe€have€recognized€that€a€sentence€imposed€in€direct€contravention€of€a€statute,€for€example,Ð ü L  Ðis€void€and€illegal.€€òòState€v.€Burkhartóó,€566€S.W.2d€871,€873€(Tenn.€1978).€€€Ð è 8  ÐÌÌà@••!ìàò òòòLife€Without€Paroleóóó óˆÐ ¬ü  ÐÌà  àPrior€to€1993,€there€were€but€two€possible€punishments€for€the€offense€of€first„degree€murder:Ð „Ô  Ðlife€imprisonment€(with€the€possibility€of€parole)€or€the€death€penalty.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„Ð pÀ Ð202(b)€(1991).€€The€legislature€in€1993€created€a€third€possible€punishment€for€the€offense:€lifeÐ \¬ Ðwithout€parole.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€39„13„202(c)€(Supp.€1996).€€The€new€sentencing€option€wasÐ H˜ Ðmade€applicable€to€offenses€committed€on€or€after€July€1,€1993.€€òòSeeóó1993€Tenn.€Pub.€Acts,€ch.€473,Ð 4„ Ððð€1.€Ð  p ÐÌà  àIn€òòState€v.€Cauthernóó,€967€S.W.2d€726€(Tenn.€1998),€we€addressed€the€issue€of€whether€aÐ øH Ðdefendant€who€committed€a€first„degree€murder€prior€to€July€1,€1993,€may€be€sentenced€to€lifeÐ ä4 Ðwithout€parole.€€We€held:Ð Ð  ÐÌà8  àWe€conclude€that€the€specific€enabling€provision€of€the€1993€act,€which€clearly€statesÐ ¨ø Ðthat€the€amendment€applies€to€all€offenses€committed€òòon€or€afteróóJuly€1,€1993,Ð ”ä Ðcontrols,€as€a€matter€of€statutory€construction....€€The€defendantððs€crime€occurredÐ €Ð Ðwell€before€July€1,€1993.€€The€statute€in€effect€at€that€time...provided€that€upon€theÐ l¼ Ðgrant€of€a€new€trial,€the€available€sentencing€options€were€life€imprisonment€andÐ X ¨ Ðdeath.€€There€is€no€indication€that€the€legislature€intended€that€the€option€of€lifeÐ D!” Ðwithout€parole€apply€retrospectively€to€offenses€occurring€before€July€1,€1993.Ð 0"€  Ð[Citation€omitted].€€òòAccordingly,...,€the€trial€court€lacked€the€statutory€authorityÐ #l! Ðto€instruct€the€jury€that€life€without€possibility€of€parole€was€a€sentencing€option€inÐ $X" Ðthis€case.Ðô$D #Ð Ð  ÐÌóóòòId.óóat€735„36€(emphasis€added).Ð Ì&"% ÐÌà  àThe€first„degree€murder€committed€by€Stephenson€occurred€on€December€3,€1989,€wellÐ ¤(ô#' Ðbefore€July€1,€1993,€when€there€were€but€two€penalties€for€the€offense:€life€imprisonment€with€theÐ )à$( Ðpossibility€of€parole€and€the€death€penalty.€€The€sentence€of€life€without€parole€was€not€an€option.€Ð |*Ì%) ÐThe€statute€that€has€since€created€the€punishment€of€life€without€parole€was€specifically€limited€toÐ h+¸&* Ðoffenses€committed€after€the€date€of€July€1,€1993.€€As€there€was€no€statutory€basis€for€a€life€withoutÐ ° Ðparole€sentence€as€applied€to€Stephenson,€the€sentence€was,€therefore,€illegal.€€Moreover,€the€partiesÐ œì Ðcannot€by€agreement€salvage€an€illegal€sentence€or€otherwise€create€authority€for€the€imposition€ofÐ ˆØ Ða€sentence€that€has€not€been€authorized€by€statute.€€òòMcConnell€v.€Stateóó,€12€S.W.3d€795,€799€(Tenn.Ð tÄ Ð2000).Ð `° ÐÌà  àAccordingly,€as€the€State€of€Tennessee€concedes,€the€possible€punishments€for€the€first„Ð 8 ˆ Ðdegree€murder€committed€by€Stephenson€were€life€imprisonment€with€the€possibility€of€parole€andÐ $ t Ðdeath.€€The€sentence€of€life€without€parole€was€not€authorized€by€statute€and€was€not€a€legalÐ  ` Ðsentencing€option.€€The€sentence€was€illegal€and€void,€notwithstanding€the€agreement€between€theÐ ü L  Ðparties,€and€was€properly€challenged€in€a€habeas€corpus€petition.€€Ð è 8  ÐÌÌà@FF%ìàòòò òCONCLUSIONóóˆÐ ¬ü  ÐÌó óà  àWe€conclude€that€Stephensonððs€sentence€of€life€without€parole€for€first„degree€murder€wasÐ „Ô  Ðan€illegal€sentence€because€it€was€not€a€statutorily€authorized€punishment€at€the€time€of€the€offense.€Ð pÀ ÐThe€sentence€was€therefore€illegal€and€void€and€was€properly€challenged€in€the€petition€for€habeasÐ \¬ Ðcorpus.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€Ð H˜ ÐÌà  àThe€judgment€of€the€Court€of€Criminal€Appeals€is€reversed,€and€this€case€is€remanded€to€theÐ  p Ðtrial€court€for€further€proceedings.€€Costs€of€the€appeal€are€assessed€to€the€State€of€Tennessee.Ð  \ ÐÌÌà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À à__________________________________________Ð Ð  Ðà  àà ` àà ¸ àà  àà h àà À àE.€RILEY€ANDERSON,€CHIEF€JUSTICE€Ð ¼  ÐÌÌ