People v. Mendoza

Juvenile Law Center filed an amicus brief in the California Supreme Court on behalf of Johnny Mendoza, who was sentenced to life without parole for an offense committed when he was 17 years old. Juvenile Law Center argued that the California Supreme Court is empowered to establish procedural protections that protect substantive rights and should recognize a presumption against imposing life sentences on youthful offenders.
 
On June 13, 2018, the case was dismissed by the Supreme Court of California as moot following the enactment of California S.B. 394 into law. The new law makes Mr. Mendoza eligible for a parole hearing after 25 years of incarceration.