Raftery v. State Board of Retirement
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that forfeiture of pension benefits required by state law when a state employee is convicted of violating laws applicable to his office did not violate the excessive fines or “cruel or unusual” punishment clause. Also held that U.S. Supreme Court’s multifactor disproportionality analysis under the 8th Amendment excessive fines provision should be adopted for purposes of the state excessive fines clause.
Related Commentary
Fines, Fees, and Bail in State Courts
Recent state supreme court cases, including a major California ruling last week, address the burden of court-imposed financial obligations on criminal defendants.