Legal Docket

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

Date
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Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP)

State v. Helm

Arizona Supreme Court •
Our brief challenged the constitutionality of Mr. Helm’s lengthy sentence, arguing that the United States Supreme Court in Graham v. Florida and Miller v. Alabama requires sentencing courts provide system involved youth with a second chance to participate and engage with family and community, and individualized sentencing that takes account of the youth’s distinctive and hallmark developmental attributes.
Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP)

Commonwealth v. LaPlante

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court •
Our letter argued that Mr. LaPlante’s sentence is the functional equivalent of a de facto life sentence and therefore unconstitutional.
Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP)

Cox v. Commonwealth

Pennsylvania Supreme Court •
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.
Sex Offender Registration of Children (SORNA)

In re A.W.

Ohio Supreme Court •
Our brief argued that the court violated A.W.’s constitutional rights by failing to provide notice at the time of his plea that completing sex offender treatment was a necessary condition to avoid imposition of an adult sentence and that the court violated his rights and Ohio law by imposing the adult sentence for a condition that, due to time constraints, was impossible for A.W. to meet.
Keeping Kids in the Community

State v. B.O.J.

Washington Supreme Court •
Our brief argued that the court impermissibly considered B.O.J.'s gender and dependency status, in direct contradiction to Washington State statute, resulting in an inappropriate lengthy term of incarceration for very minor offenses. Our brief highlighted research demonstrating that girls, particularly girls of color and those involved in both the delinquency and dependency systems, are often punished more severely by courts, under the justification of providing treatment and protection, than their male peers for the same or more severe offenses.
Keeping Kids in the Community

J.P. v. County of Alameda

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit •
Amici urged the Court to affirm the trial court ruling and uphold First Amendment protections for siblings, including cohabitating siblings in foster care.
Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP)

Commonwealth v. Stahley

Pennsylvania Supreme Court •
Our brief argued that Mr. Stahley’s sentence of life without parole is unconstitutional, because it was imposed without the protections of Batts II and because the court failed to consider evidence of his rehabilitation and rehabilitative potential, as well as the hallmark characteristics of youth as required by Miller.