We have a long-running murder case here--stockbroker accused of bludgeoning his ex-wife to get out of paying alimony. He's been in the can for more than three years, partly because his first trial resulted in a mistrial after the judge collapsed due to a brain tumor (judge died later). Now he's been held in solitary confinement for over a year because of some alleged altercation with other prisoners. He's let out of his cell only an hour a day, and has to use it to transact all business with lawyers, phone calls to family, as well as whatever exercise he can take.

His lawyers have petitioned the court to let him go into general population. But the Yavapai County Sheriff says that he has exclusive say over what happens in his jail--and the judge agrees with him.

Haven't they heard of the Eighth Amendment?