On December 12, 2008, Nick Robinson's life would change forever. At the time Nick was just a 15-year old highschool freshman with his whole life ahead of him. That night, Nick was arrested for a local robbery. Availing himself of his right to a trial by jury, Nick believed that the court would take it easy on him. That decision would prove fateful.

Despite his tender age, Nick was tried and sentenced as an adult to a total of 68-years with a Mandatory Minimum 33-year term for his involvement in a crime where he physically hurt no one. A consecutive mandatory sentence that the trial court erroneously believed that it was required to apply, by law.

In 2012, for the first time, in a separate case (Brown v. Commonwealth), the Supreme Court of Virginia held that a trial court was not required to run multiple sentences for use of a firearm consecutively with each other, effectively eliminating its application as a mandatory minimum. This ruling should have invalidated Nick's sentence. Unfortunately, the holding in Brown came several years too late for Nick's sentencing and washed away any hope in a second chance that he held.

In America, there has been much discussion concerning the harshness and legitimacy of mandatory minimum sentencing, especially concerning our juvenile offenders. Here we had a young, charismatic and promising African American teenager who in one fleeting instance made the biggest mistake of his life and was condemned to spend a large portion of his adult life behind bars without a chance of parole. Instead of offering him an opportunity to turn his life around and to become a contributing member of our society, he was shown that his life did not matter. As it stands, Nick would be nearly 50-years old when released. The harsh sentence was unwarranted and Nick deserves a second chance!

Despite his too-harsh sentencing, Nick decided to do his best to better himself and has matured into a solid citizen in prison. Nick has renounced his juvenile criminal past and has demonstrated extreme remorse for his part in the robbery and has redeemed himself. Recognizing that education is the key to personal development, Nick has a very long list of academic and personal achievements earned while incarcerated, including successfully completing a series of classes and programs from Washington & Lee University. Nick's professor from W&L, Howard Pickett, an Associate Professor of Ethics and Poverty, has recognized Nick's talents and complete rehabilitation and is asking for Nick to get a second chance. Professor Pickett in a letter to the Governor of Virginia states that Nick "is one of the most thoughtful and uncommonly introspective students I have taught in more than a decade of teaching at both the University of Virginia and W&L".

We, as a community, believe that Nick deserves a second chance at life. We believe that he should rejoin us as a contributing member of our society. If you too believe that Nick deserves a second chance, please sign our petition asking Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam to show mercy and grant Nick clemency.