14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. ... In addition, it forbids states from denying any person "life, liberty or property, without due process of law" or to "deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws
Dr. Samuel Mudd was convicted as a co-conspirator of Booth in President Lincolns assassination and, for aiding and abetting Booth in his attempt to escape from the federal authorities. He had a conspiracy crime and was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.