After Facing Life in Prison, a Legal Trailblazer Steps Into Freedom NYT | Top Stories Maia Coleman 18 October 2025 at 04:00 James Comer’s case helped end de facto life sentences for young offenders in New Jersey. He had been convicted of felony murder as a teenager, after his companion in a robbery shot a victim. © Vincent Alban/The New York TimesOver two decades, James Comer’s case rose to New Jersey’s highest court, opening the door for dozens of inmates to seek sentence reductions.