Cox v. Commonwealth

Juvenile Law Center and Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project filed an amicus brief in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in support of a King's Bench Petition on behalf of Jermont Cox and Kevin Marinelli arguing for the abolition of Pennsylvania’s death penalty. Our brief focused specifically on the young adult population—18 to 25 year olds—who make up over one third of Pennsylvania’s current death row population and whose developmental traits of immature decision-making, impetuosity, susceptibility to negative peer influences, and greater capacity for rehabilitation further underscore the overall arbitrary and disproportionate nature of Pennsylvania’s death penalty.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court denied the Application for Extraordinary Relief under King's Bench Jurisdiction.