Legal Docket

Use the filters on the left to browse our legal docket.  For more information on race equity arguments, use this tool.

Date
1 - 10 of 419 resultsReset
Keeping Kids in the Community

United States v. Skrmetti

U.S. Supreme Court •
Our brief argued that the banned medical care both improves mental health and well-being and decreases suicide risk for transgender youth. The brief further argued that transgender health care bans disproportionately harm vulnerable populations, including transgender youth of color, those living in poverty or in rural areas, foster youth and youth involved in the juvenile legal system, and those experiencing housing instability.
Youth Tried as Adults

Pike v. State

Tennessee Supreme Court •
Our brief highlighted neuroscientific research demonstrating that older adolescents share the same developmental characteristics of youth relied upon by the Supreme Court in Roper and its progeny. We argued that, based on this scientific consensus, the Supreme Court’s Eighth Amendment jurisprudence, and evolving standards of decency, the imposition of the death penalty on older adolescents like Ms. Pike constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.
Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP)

State v. Jones

New Jersey Supreme Court •
Our amicus letter argued that late adolescents share the same developmental characteristics that provided the basis for the Court’s treatment of youth in Comer, and they are thus entitled to the same constitutional protections.
Keeping Kids in the Community

In re S.W.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court •
The brief argued that foster parent intervention in dependency matters undermines children’s long-term well-being by delaying permanency and increasing the likelihood of TPR. The brief further highlighted the United States’ legacy of systematically devaluing and dismantling Black families and the disproportionate rates of family separation and TPR experienced by Black children to show that allowing prospective adoptive parent standing will perpetuate these deeply entrenched racial and class biases. Finally, the brief argued that allowing prospective adoptive parent intervention will lead to increased costs associated with prolonged litigation.
Keeping Kids in the Community

In re E.D.A.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court •
The brief highlighted the importance of maintaining lifelong family relationships for a child’s development and wellbeing, as well as the significant harm that can result from the permanent severance of family attachments. The brief further argued that termination of parental rights is disproportionately inflicted on Black children, a disproportionality that stems from the United States’ long legacy of systematically devaluing and dismantling Black families. Finally, the brief argued that environmental factors, such as housing conditions and income, should never be the basis for termination of parental rights.
Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP)

Commonwealth v. Lee

Pennsylvania Supreme Court •
Our brief highlighted research showing that the majority of Pennsylvanians serving LWOP sentences for felony murder were 25 or younger at the time of their offense, and over 42% were between the ages of 18 to 21. We argued that imposing such sentences on young adults disregards research confirming that they share many developmental traits with young people under 18. Our brief further argued that LWOP sentences for felony murder are unconstitutionally cruel under the Pennsylvania Constitution and disproportionately harm Black and Latinx young adults. Finally, our brief highlighted the stories of individuals sentenced to LWOP as young people who successfully returned to their communities post-Miller, demonstrating the importance of abolishing punishments that foreclose hope of rehabilitation.
Keeping Kids in the Community

In re Bates & In re Dailey

Michigan Supreme Court •
Our brief argued that termination of parental rights inflicts significant emotional and psychological harm on children, and that kinship and guardianship placements preserve familial connections and provide a less restrictive alternative to termination. Our brief further argued that termination of parental rights must pass strict scrutiny because the deprivation of the fundamental right to family integrity is disproportionately imposed on Black, Latinx, and Indigenous children and termination without considering alternatives perpetuates the racist origins of the child welfare system.