Commonwealth v. Powell

Juvenile Law Center filed an amicus brief in Massachusetts opposing the imposition of a mandatory sentence of life without parole on a 16-year-old boy charged with murder. Juvenile Law Center argued that in light of the Supreme Court’s precedent in Roper v. Simmons, the imposition of a life without parole sentence on Mr. Powell was a disproportionate punishment under both the United States and Massachusetts Constitutions.

The Superior Court Division of Massachusetts denied Powell’s motion without prejudice to renew, stating that the case could not yet be decided because Powell had not yet been convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole.