Hugo Furst disagrees with that statement. Here is an example for you...
"To take a situation involving the possibility of parole, suppose that a defendant is on trial for two
murders. The jury convicts him of both, and the judge sentences him to consecutive life sentences with the possibility of parole. State law allows the defendant to apply for parole after 20 years. By sentencing the defendant to consecutive life sentences, the judge has likely ensured that he will be behind bars for at least 40 years"
"Now let's say the defendant received consecutive life sentences
without the possibility of parole. Here, the defendant
appeals the convictions and a court overturns one because the prosecution didn't comply with its
discovery obligations. That takes one life sentence off the books—at least until the defendant can be retried. But the other life sentence remains in effect"
Learn why and when a defendant might be sentenced to more than one life sentence.
www.nolo.com