I've just always wondered exactly what that was supposed to mean. I'm assuming it's largely symbolic, since they bury your body after you die, you can't really "serve" anything beyond that.

Is that all it is? Just a symbolic gesture reserved for the "worst of the worst"?

You'll actually find that 'life' means something like 20-25 years.

Okay....

Life without possibility of parole + x years, or a double LWOP.

they charge you like that in case later on in your sentence you appeal and some of the charges get dropped. for a simplified example, you kill 5 people, you get charged with 5 life sentences. later on you appeal and for some reason one of your life sentences gets dropped. sounds all nice and good but unfortunately you have 4 more to serve so you aren't really getting out.

Nagasaki is right. Its basically the judge's way of saying: We hate your ass so much we don't want the slightest change of you getting out ever.

I've just always wondered exactly what that was supposed to mean. I'm assuming it's largely symbolic, since they bury your body after you die, you can't really "serve" anything beyond that.

Is that all it is? Just a symbolic gesture reserved for the "worst of the worst"?

Ever seen the movie 'Flatliners'? It's like that. They get to kill you a couple times, and then lock you up forever when they're done with you.