Just a few Justice Kennedy sentencing jurisprudence highlights

The fine folks at the Legal Information Institute appear to have all of retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy's Supreme Court opinions assembled at this link.  Here is my quick accounting of just a few of his significant sentencing rulings (in chronological order):

• Harmelin v. Michigan, 501 U.S. 957 (1991)

• Koon v. US, 518 U.S. 81 (1996)

• Glover v. US, 531 U.S. 198 (2001) 

• Harris v. US, 536 U.S. 545 (2002) 

• Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005)

• Kennedy v. Louisiana, 554 U.S. 407 (2008)

• Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48 (2010)

• Montgomery v. Louisiana, 577 U.S. ___ (2016)

This list includes only lead opinions for the Court (though technically Harmelin is a concurrence), and I am sure I have not listed every opinion that sentencing fans might consider a big part of the Kennedy legacy.  But this abridged list alone showcases what a extraordinarily consequential "Sentencing Justice" that Anthony Kennedy has been during his 30+ years on the Court.  

For a variety of complicated personal reasons, Koon may be my favorite of the opinions on this list and Harmelin is certainly my least favorite.  And I would be eager to hear in the comments about favorites or opinions not mentioned above that are part of the "sentencing footprint" that Justice Kennedy is leaving.

Prior related post:

• Justice Anthony Kennedy has announced his retirement ... which means a lot for the future of sentencing jurisprudence and so much more