The Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a ruling that could have forced two former Los Angeles police officers to return to prison for the 1991 videotaped beating of Rodney King.
The justices voted unanimously to set aside an appeals court ruling that could have meant former Los Angeles policemen Stacey Koon and Laurence Powell would have to serve as long as 57 months.The high court, instead, returned the case to a federal trial judge to reconsider the validity of giving both ex-officers stiffer sentences.
The judge could impose more time but could decide instead to stick with his original sentences, which the two officers have served. Koon and Powell both are free.
In Los Angeles, Ira Salzman, Koon's lawyer, said, "I'm overjoyed that Stacey will not face further time. It's a great victory for all federal judges to let them do the job the Constitution envisioned, to use their experience and wisdom in fashioning appropriate sentences for those convicted of crimes."