Legal Docket

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Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP)

Kinkel v. Laney

U.S. Supreme Court •
Our brief argued that the Oregon Supreme Court’s use of mental illness as a proxy for “irreparable corruption” contravenes U.S. Supreme Court precedent, which has long established mental illness as a mitigating factor. We further argued that Mr. Kinkel’s illness is treatable and cannot be equated with irretrievable depravity.
Youth Interrogations & Access to Counsel

A.M. v. State

Indiana Supreme Court •
Our brief argued that a juvenile disposition modification hearing is a “critical stage” in delinquency proceedings entitling children to the effective assistance of counsel under the Sixth Amendment and that counsel who argues that a child should be placed in the harshest and most punitive setting available cannot be said to be providing effective assistance.
Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP)

People v. Buffer

Illinois Supreme Court •
We argued that a lengthy sentence imposed on a youth, which precludes a meaningful opportunity to obtain release, violates the Eighth Amendment. We further argued that Illinois sentencing structure, which imposes an automatic 25 years-to-life in firearm enhancements on top of mandatory minimums on youth tried as adults, fails to meaningfully consider youth as required by Miller and Montgomery.
Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP)

Commonwealth v. Lugo

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court •
Amici argued that mandatory sentencing that imposes harsh adult consequences on juvenile offenders without any individualized consideration of age or other mitigating circumstances contravenes the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.
Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP)

Commonwealth v. Blount

Pennsylvania Superior Court •
Along with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, Juvenile Law Center filed a brief in the Superior Court of Pennsylvania arguing that imposing an additional six years on a juvenile lifer at resentencing is excessive where the court found credible evidence that established that the juvenile had been rehabilitated. We further argued that it is unconstitutional to impose a mandatory lifetime parole tail on all juvenile lifers being resentenced.
Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP)

Chandler v. Mississippi

U.S. Supreme Court •
The amicus brief argued that Miller and Montgomery establish a presumption against imposing life without parole sentences on juveniles and requires a finding that the juvenile is permanently incorrigible and incapable of reform.
Economic Justice

Timbs v. Indiana

U.S. Supreme Court •
Juvenile Law Center’s brief supports Mr. Timbs' position that the U.S. Constitution’s protection against excessive fines applies to state and local governments as well as to the federal government. Our brief seeks to educate the Court about how exorbitant fines and fees in the juvenile justice system affect young people.
Youth Tried as Adults

Terrell v. Ohio

U.S. Supreme Court •
Our brief urged the court to grant review to address the constitutionality of Ohio's felony murder statute as applied to juveniles because it prescribes a mandatory 15 years to life sentence without consideration of youth.