On July 25, 2022, Attorney Steve Smith traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, to defend the rights of a convicted criminal before the United States First Circuit Court of Appeals. At oral argument, Attorney Smith argued that the convict’s 80-year prison sentence was a “cruel and unusual” life sentence under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Attorney Smith explained that the Supreme Court has not laid out a consistent test for determining whether a sentencing court’s punishment is “grossly disproportionate” with the underlying crime. Regardless of the outcome in this particular case, Attorney Smith hopes that the Supreme Court will clarify their position on the Eighth Amendment rights of convicted criminals, and until then, he will continue to advocate for just, constitutional outcomes for his clients.