lockyer attorney general california andrade argued november decided march california charged respondent andrade two felony counts petty theft prior conviction stole approximately worth videotapes two different stores california three strikes law felony constitute third strike subjecting defendant prison term years life jury found andrade guilty found three prior convictions qualified serious violent felonies three strikes regime petty theft convictions thus triggered separate application three strikes law judge sentenced two consecutive terms years life affirming california appeal rejected claim sentence violated constitutional prohibition cruel unusual punishment found solem helm proportionality analysis questionable light harmelin michigan compared facts andrade case rummel estelle rejected claim life sentence grossly disproportionate felonies formed predicate sentence concluded andrade sentence disproportionate california denied discretionary review federal district denied andrade subsequent habeas petition ninth circuit granted certificate appealability reversed reviewing case antiterrorism effective death penalty act aedpa latter held unreasonable application clearly established federal law occurs clear error concluded solem rummel remain good law instructive applying harmelin found california appeal disregard solem resulted unreasonable application clearly established law irreconcilable solem thus constituting clear error held ninth circuit erred ruling california appeal decision contrary unreasonable application clearly established law within meaning pp aedpa require federal habeas adopt one methodology deciding question matters whether state decision contrary involved unreasonable application clearly established federal law case reach question whether state erred focuses solely whether habeas relief barred pp must first decide constitutes clearly established law andrade claims rummel solem harmelin clearly establish principle sentence grossly disproportionate violated eighth amendment clearly established federal law governing legal principle principles set forth time state renders decision difficulty andrade position established clear consistent path courts follow determining whether particular sentence term years violate eighth amendment indeed clearly established law emerging jurisprudence area gross disproportionality principle applies sentences cases lack clarity regarding factors may indicate gross disproportionality principle precise contours unclear applicable exceedingly rare extreme case harmelin supra kennedy concurring part concurring judgment pp california appeal decision contrary involved unreasonable application clearly established gross disproportionality principle first decision contrary clearly established precedent state applied rule contradicts governing law set forth cases confronts facts materially indistinguishable decision nevertheless arrives different result williams taylor andrade sentence implicates factors relevant rummel solem harmelin solem specifically stated overrule rummel contrary clearly established law state turn rummel deciding whether sentence grossly disproportionate see harmelin supra kennedy also facts fall solem rummel materially indistinguishable either thus state confront materially indistinguishable facts yet arrive different result second unreasonable application clause federal habeas may grant writ state identifies correct governing legal principle unreasonably applies facts prisoner case williams taylor stevens dissenting denial certiorari pp reversed delivered opinion rehnquist scalia kennedy thomas joined souter filed dissenting opinion stevens ginsburg breyer joined bill lockyer attorney general fornia petitioner leandro andrade writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit march justice delivered opinion case raises issue whether appeals ninth circuit erred ruling california appeal decision affirming leandro andrade two consecutive terms years life prison third strike conviction contrary unreasonable application clearly established federal law determined within meaning november leandro andrade stole five videotapes worth kmart store ontario california security personnel detained andrade leaving store november andrade entered different kmart store montclair california placed four videotapes worth rear waistband pants security guards apprehended andrade exiting premises police subsequently arrested andrade crimes two incidents andrade first encounters law enforcement according state probation officer presentence report andrade state federal prison since january convicted misdemeanor theft offense sentenced days jail months probation andrade arrested november multiple counts residential burglary pleaded guilty least three counts april following year sentenced months prison andrade convicted federal ransportation arijuana app sentenced eight years federal prison convicted state misdemeanor petty theft offense ordered serve days jail september andrade convicted federal felony ransportation arijuana sentenced days federal prison andrade arrested state parole violation escape federal prison paroled state penitentiary system state probation officer interviewed andrade arrest case presentence report notes defendant admitted committing offense defendant stated went store steal videos took four sell buy heroin heroin addict since says gets jail prison always something stupid admits addiction controls life steals habit misdemeanor conviction state charged andrade case two counts petty theft prior conviction violation cal penal code ann west supp california law petty theft prior conviction wobbler offense punishable either misdemeanor felony ibid cf ewing california ante slip plurality opinion decision prosecute petty theft prior conviction misdemeanor felony discretion prosecutor see ante slip trial also discretion reduce charge misdemeanor time sentencing see people superior los angeles cty ex rel alvarez cal see also ewing california ante slip california three strikes law felony constitute third strike thus subject defendant term years life prison see cal penal code ann west see also ewing california ante slip case prosecutor decided charge two counts theft felonies rather misdemeanors trial denied andrade motion reduce offenses misdemeanors jury verdict state habeas proceedings jury found andrade guilty two counts petty theft prior conviction according california law jury must also find defendant convicted least two serious violent felonies serve qualifying offenses three strikes regime case jury made special finding andrade convicted three counts residential burglary conviction residential burglary qualifies serious violent felony purposes three strikes law cal penal code ann west see also ewing california ante slip consequence andrade convictions theft cal penal code ann west supp triggered separate application three strikes law pursuant california law judge sentenced andrade two consecutive terms years life prison see state stated oral argument decision announced california people garcia cal decision postdates conviction sentence remains available andrade file another state habeas corpus petition arguing serve one term years life prison sentencing courts right dismiss strikes basis tr oral arg direct appeal california appeal affirmed andrade sentence two consecutive terms years life prison rejected andrade claim sentence violates constitutional prohibition cruel unusual punishment stated proportionality analysis solem helm questionable light harmelin michigan app pet cert applied decision rummel estelle rejected defendant claim life sentence disproportionate three felonies formed predicate sentence california appeal examined andrade claim light facts rummel comparing andrade crimes criminal history defendant rummel say sentence years life issue case disproportionate constitutes cruel unusual punishment constitution app pet cert california denied discretionary review andrade filed petition writ habeas corpus federal district district denied petition ninth circuit granted andrade certificate appealability claim sentence violated eighth amendment subsequently reversed judgment district ninth circuit first noted reviewing andrade petition antiterrorism effective death penalty act aedpa stat applying precedent ninth circuit held unreasonable application clearly established federal law occurs independent review legal question us firm conviction one answer one rejected state correct application federal law state adopted erroneous words clear error occurred alteration original quoting van tran lindsey reviewed three recent major precedents area rummel estelle supra solem helm supra harmelin michigan supra ninth circuit follow ed test prescribed justice kennedy harmelin concluding rummel solem remain good law instructive harmelin application noted california appeal compared facts andrade case facts rummel solem ninth circuit concluded grant writ habeas corpus state disregard solem results unreasonable application clearly established law irreconcilable solem thus constituting clear error judge sneed dissented relevant part wrote sentence imposed case one rare terms imprisonment prohibited eighth amendment proscription cruel unusual punishment quoting harmelin michigan supra kennedy concurring part concurring judgment view state decision upholding andrade sentence thus unreasonable application clearly established federal law granted certiorari reverse ii andrade argument two consecutive terms years life stealing approximately videotapes grossly disproportionate violation eighth amendment andrade similarly maintains state decision affirming sentence contrary involved unreasonable application clearly established federal law determined aedpa circumscribes federal habeas review decision section provides application writ habeas corpus behalf person custody pursuant judgment state shall granted respect claim adjudicated merits state proceedings unless adjudication claim resulted decision contrary involved unreasonable application clearly established federal law determined ninth circuit requires federal habeas courts review state decision de novo applying aedpa standard review see van tran lindsey supra clark murphy disagree approach aedpa require federal habeas adopt one methodology deciding question matters whether state decision contrary involved unreasonable application clearly established federal law see weeks angelone case reach question whether state erred instead focus solely whether forecloses habeas relief andrade eighth amendment claim iii threshold matter first decide constitutes clearly established federal law determined andrade relies upon series precedents rummel estelle solem helm harmelin michigan claims clearly establish principle sentence grossly disproportionate violates eighth amendment section clearly established phrase refers holdings opposed dicta decisions time relevant decision williams taylor words clearly established federal law governing legal principle principles set forth time state renders decision see bell cone situations task determining clearly established straightforward difficulty andrade position however precedents area model clarity see harmelin michigan opinion scalia kennedy concurring part concurring judgment indeed determining whether particular sentence term years violate eighth amendment established clear consistent path courts follow see ewing california ante slip thicket eighth amendment jurisprudence one governing legal principle emerges clearly established gross disproportionality principle applicable sentences terms years cases exhibit lack clarity regarding factors may indicate gross disproportionality solem case upon andrade relies heavily stated clear sentence generally severe sentence cases difficult decide former violates eighth amendment latter omitted harmelin justice kennedy justice scalia repeatedly emphasized lack clarity solem scarcely expression clear constitutional law opinion scalia adher ing narrow proportionality principle proportionality decisions clear consistent respects kennedy concurring part concurring judgment lack clear objective standards distinguish sentences different terms years kennedy concurring part concurring judgment precise contours proportionality principle unclear kennedy concurring part concurring judgment thus case relevant clearly established law amenable contrary unreasonable application framework gross disproportionality principle precise contours unclear applicable exceedingly rare extreme case kennedy concurring part concurring judgment internal quotation marks omitted see also solem helm supra rummel estelle supra iv final question whether california appeal decision affirming andrade sentence contrary involved unreasonable application clearly established gross disproportionality principle first state decision contrary clearly established precedent state applies rule contradicts governing law set forth cases state confronts set facts materially indistinguishable decision nevertheless arrives result different precedent williams taylor supra see also bell cone supra terms length sentence availability parole severity underlying offense impact recidivism andrade sentence implicates factors relevant rummel solem harmelin solem specifically stated overrule rummel contrary clearly established law california appeal turn rummel deciding whether sentence grossly disproportionate see harmelin supra kennedy concurring part concurring judgment solem supra indeed harmelin allows state reasonably rely rummel determining whether sentence grossly disproportionate california appeal decision therefore contrary governing legal principles set forth cases andrade sentence also materially indistinguishable facts solem facts fall facts rummel facts solem solem involved sentence life prison without possibility parole defendant rummel sentenced life prison possibility parole andrade retains possibility parole solem acknowledged rummel apply similar factual situation case resembles degree rummel solem materially indistinguishable either cf ewing california ante slip breyer dissenting recognizing twilight zone solem rummel consequently state confron set facts materially indistinguishable decision nevertheless arriv result different precedent williams taylor second nder application clause federal habeas may grant writ state identifies correct governing legal principle decisions unreasonably applies principle facts prisoner case unreasonable application clause requires state decision incorrect erroneous state application clearly established law must objectively unreasonable ninth circuit made initial error unreasonable application analysis van tran lindsey ninth circuit defined objectively unreasonable mean clear error two standards however gloss clear error fails give proper deference state courts conflating error even clear error unreasonableness see williams taylor supra bell cone enough federal habeas independent review legal question left state quoting van tran lindsey supra held precisely opposite application clause federal habeas may issue writ simply concludes independent judgment relevant decision applied clearly established federal law erroneously incorrectly williams taylor rather application must objectively unreasonable bell cone supra woodford visciotti per curiam slip section permits federal grant habeas relief based application governing legal principle set facts different case principle announced see williams taylor supra noting unreasonable application precedent state identifies correct governing legal rule cases unreasonably applies facts particular state prisoner case however governing legal principle gives legislatures broad discretion fashion sentence fits within scope proportionality principle precise contours unclear harmelin michigan kennedy concurring part concurring judgment objectively unreasonable california appeal conclude contours permitted affirmance andrade sentence indeed since harmelin several members expressed uncertainty regarding application proportionality principle california three strikes law riggs california stevens joined souter ginsburg respecting denial certiorari uncertainty cases dealing punishment recidivists apply see also thus unclear defendant criminal record beyond requisite two prior affects constitutionality sentence cf durden california souter joined breyer dissenting denial certiorari arguing hear three strikes gross disproportionality issue direct review potential disagreement application aedpa gross disproportionality principle reserves constitutional violation extraordinary case applying principle purposes unreasonable application clearly established law california appeal affirm andrade sentence two consecutive terms years life prison judgment appeals ninth circuit accordingly reversed ordered bill lockyer attorney general fornia petitioner leandro andrade writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit march justice souter justice stevens justice ginsburg justice breyer join dissenting application eighth amendment prohibition cruel unusual punishment terms years articulated clearly established principle acknowledged sentence grossly disproportionate offense imposed unconstitutional see ante harmelin michigan solem helm rummel estelle reasons set forth justice breyer dissent ewing california ante joined andrade sentence survive eighth amendment review criminal history less grave ewing yet received prison term twice long less serious triggering offense sure habeas case prohibition couched terms general gross disproportion necessarily leaves state courts much leeway statutory criterion conditions federal relief upon finding state unreasonably applied clear law see case nonetheless presents two independent reasons holding disproportionality review state erroneous unreasonable entitling andrade relief respectfully dissent accordingly first reason holding solem happens recent effort proportionality review recidivist sentencing authority left doubt harmelin see although solem important instructions applying objective proportionality analysis see case controlling established benchmark applying general principle specifically held sentence life imprisonment without parole uttering account check disproportionate crime even though defendant committed six prior nonviolent felonies explaining proportionality review contrasted result rummel ground life sentence included parole eligibility years solem facts fours solem point result andrade like defendant solem repeat offender committed theft fairly trifling value criminal records comparable including burglary though andrade residential violent crimes crimes person respective sentences strikingly alike although andrade petty thefts occurred two separate occasions sentence understood punishment total amount stole two thefts separated two weeks involved victim apparently constituted parts single continuing effort finance drug sales seriousness measured dollar value things taken government charged thefts single indictment cf sentencing commission guidelines manual grouping temporally separated counts one offense sentencing purposes state accordingly spoke punishment collectively well carrying minimum parole eligibility see app pet cert say sentence years life issue case disproportionate andrade years old sentenced substantial period amounts life without parole solem supra quoting robinson california considering whether punishment cruel unusual questions considered cf rummel supra defendant eligibility parole years informs proper assessment cruel unusual punishment claim results eighth amendment therefore case ways reach different conclusion reject practical equivalence life sentence without parole one parole eligibility see ante andrade retains possibility parole discount continuing authority solem example california see app pet cert current validity solem proportionality analysis questionable former unrealistic man released years behind bars real life left survives released latter disparaging solem point reference eighth amendment analysis wrong matter law second reason relief required even unreasonable application standard rests alternative way looking andrade sentence two separate applications law construing challenge going second consecutive minimum term triggered petty understand revealing look sentence way helps recall basic difficulty inherent proportionality review require comparison offense penalty disclose truly gross disproportionality constitutional limit passed large part believe legislatures institutionally equipped better judgment courts deciding penalty merited particular behavior solem case however substantially aided reviewing function two determinations made state first state adoption particular penalogical theory principal reason shutting defendant away least although state alludes passing retribution deterrence see brief petitioner reply brief petitioner serious justification minimum treats sentence way incapacitate given defendant crime underlying theory need protect public danger demonstrated prior record violent serious crime see brief petitioner significant danger society defendant must imprisoned less years life statute carefully tailored address defendants pose greatest danger isolating defendant substantial period time reply brief petitioner andrade reasoning accepted however california precluded incapacitating see also rummel purpose recidivist statute segregate state words chosen life inherent moral social reprehensibility triggering offense isolation triggering offense treated seriously rather confirmation defendant danger society need counter threat incapacitation length incapacitation state made second helpful determination public risk danger posed someone specified predicate record generally addressed incapacitation years parole eligibility cal penal code ann ii west law sum responds condition defendant shown prior felony record danger society reflects judgment years incapacitation prior parole eligibility appropriate defendant exhibiting condition commits another felony whether one accepts state choice penalogical policy constitutionally sound policy reasonably justify imposition consecutive minimum second minor felony committed soon first triggering offense andrade somehow become twice dangerous society stole second handful videotapes dangerousness may justify treating one minor felony serious warranting long incapacitation second felony disclose greater danger warranting substantially longer incapacitation since defendant condition changed two closely related thefts incapacitation penalty open simple arithmetic multiplying punishment two without resulting gross disproportion even state chosen benchmark far attempting novel penal theory justify doubling sentence california appeal offered comment particular penal theory supporting punishment app pet cert perhaps even tellingly one seriously argue second theft videotapes provided basis think andrade dangerous years date consecutive sentence begin run require least years know jurisdiction add years imprisonment simply reflect fact two temporally related thefts took place two separate occasions surprised california found case even law tr oral arg state counsel acknowledging reference sentences based two convictions sum argument repeating trivial crime justifies doubling minimum incapacitation sentence based threat public raise seriously debatable point judgments might reasonably differ argument irrational state acceptance response facially gross disproportion triggering offense penalty unreasonable within meaning rare sentence demonstrable gross disproportionality california legislature may well recognized specifically provided prosecutor may move dismiss strike prior felony conviction furtherance justice cal penal code ann west case statutory safeguard failed state left ensure eighth amendment prohibition grossly disproportionate sentences met andrade sentence grossly disproportionate principle meaning california holding unreasonable application clearly established precedent footnotes justice souter argues possibility andrade receiving parole years makes case similar facts solem helm post dissenting opinion andrade sentence however also similar facts rummel estelle case also controlling post given lack clarity precedents solem rummel harmelin michigan say state affirmance two sentences years life prison contrary clearly established precedent extent justice souter arguing similarity solem case entitles andrade relief unreasonable application prong reject analysis reasons given infra moreover true andrade sentence understood punishment total amount stole post contrary california law specifically provides violation cal penal code ann west supp triggers separate application three strikes law different felony counts arising set operative facts see also andrade sentenced two consecutive terms california law precisely two thefts two different kmart stores occurring two weeks apart two distinct crimes justice souter relying robinson california also argues case unrealistic think sentence years life andrade equivalent life prison without parole post argument however misses point based precedents state decision contrary unreasonable application clearly established law moreover justice souter position treat sentence life without parole person convicted murder equivalent sentence life possibility parole years person convicted crime two different sentences become materially indistinguishable based solely upon age persons sentenced justice souter hold andrade sentence also violates unreasonable application prong post reasons however change uncertainty scope proportionality principle say state decision unreasonable application principle footnotes point independent fact recognized ante remains open andrade appeal sentence people garcia cal holding trial may dismiss strikes basis discretion consistent mandatory consecutive sentencing provision implicit distinction future dangerousness repunishment prior crimes notion triggering offense must within degree substantial enough bear weight sentence elicits triggering offenses become increasingly minor recidivist sentences grow sentences advance toward double jeopardy violations defendants parking violators slow readers borrowed library books much room belief even light past criminal record state permanently incapacitating defendant future dangerousness rather resentencing past offenses said question legitimacy repeatedly sentencing defendant light criminal record federal sentencing guidelines provide prime example sentencing scheme may take account defendant criminal history without resentencing defendant past convictions witte triggering offense determines range possible sentences past criminal record affects enhancement sentence point merely triggering offense must reasonably support weight even harshest possible sentences