Applying Apprendi to juvenile bind-over

Thanks to a helpful reader, I found this fascinating article from the Dallas Morning News which reports that “State District Judge Manny Alvarez on Friday dismissed a murder indictment against Marco Lopez, 16, saying the court lacked jurisdiction over the case because the teenager was transferred to the adult system without the blessing of a jury.” 

I know lawyers have previously claimed that Apprendi might impact judicial fact-finding required for a juvenile transfer to an adult court (where, typically, a much higher maximum sentence is available).  But I have not previously heard of a court actually extending Apprendi to such bindovers.  Indeed, the article states:

In his opposing motion, [Assistant DA] Rogers argued that defense attorneys in other states have unsuccessfully tried to use the same Supreme Court case to influence juvenile transfer cases.  “No other court in the United States has extended Apprendi to this level,” Mr. Rogers said.

Interesting stuff, and an issue to follow as this one case is appealed and others are brought with similar claims: “Rogers said he will appeal the ruling [and attorneys involved] in the case said the ruling is likely to spur a flurry of similar motions.”