PEOPLE OF MI V LUDALE RANDY JONES

Court of Appeals, State of Michigan
ORDER
PEOPLE OF MI V LUDALE RANDY JONES
Docket No. 380480
LC No. 88-007896-01-FC
Kathleen A. Feeney
Presiding Judge
Stephen L. Borrello
Sima G. Patel
Judges
The motion to waive fees is GRANTED for this case only.
Pursuant to MCR 7.205(E)(2), the trial court’s November 5, 2025 order is VACATED, and
the matter REMANDED for further proceedings consistent with this order. Defendant sought relief from
judgment under MCR 6.502(G), generally seeking resentencing with regard to his life-without-parole
sentence under People v Parks, 510 Mich 225; 987 NW2d 161 (2022), and similar authorities. The trial
court dismissed the motion as “moot,” indicating the motion was unnecessary and that resentencing
proceedings would be automatic, after the prosecutor had the opportunity to review the case to determine
whether it would continue to seek a life-without-parole sentence, under People v Taylor, ___Mich___;
___NW3d___ (2025) (Docket Nos. 166428 and 166654). In Taylor, the Supreme Court extended the rule
of Parks to 19- and 20-year-old offenders, but did not extend the rule of Parks to 21-year-old offenders. Id.
at ___; slip op at 13 (“Today we extend Parks and its holdings to offenders who were 19 or 20 years old
when they committed the offense for which they were convicted”). Defendant, who was 21 years old at the
time he committed first-degree murder, was effectively asking the trial court to take the additional step the
Supreme Court did not take in Taylor—extend the rule of Parks to 21-year-old offenders. The trial court
erred by deeming the motion moot and indicating that defendant would be resentenced. Rather, both this
Court and the trial court are presently bound to follow Taylor, under which defendant is not entitled to relief.
On remand, the trial court shall enter an order denying the motion for relief from judgment for this reason
and enter any other necessary orders in this case.
The motions to remand and to appoint counsel are DENIED in light of our disposition of the
application. This order is to have immediate effect. MCR 7.215(F)(2). We do not retain jurisdiction.
_______________________________
Presiding Judge

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