Conn v. Kentucky Parole Board

Held that the Parole Board’s issuance of a “serve-out” on a life sentence, denying inmates any further opportunity at parole for the remainder of their sentences, did not encroach upon court’s exclusive authority to set defendant’s sentence because it made no alteration to the judicially-imposed sentence itself. Therefore, it did not violate separation of powers. Also held that the Board has statutory authority to grant prolonged deferments to inmate serving life sentence, including indefinite serve-outs; and that the Parole Board process and decisions were not arbitrary.