Posts in 'Amicus Curiae'

Argued that the highly intrusive search of a fifteen-year old public alternative school student, which occurred on school grounds, was unconstitutional, violating her right to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures. 

Argued that sentences of life without the possibility of parole for juveniles convicted of homicide are unconstitutional.

Argued that sentences of life without the possibility of parole for juveniles convicted of homicide are unconstitutional.

Argued for a specific jury instruction addressing the susceptibility of a 16-year-old to duress because of his level of maturity and limited decision-making capacity.

Surveyed statutes and social science literature in a lawsuit involving the interpretation of the “reasonable efforts” to preserve and reunite families provision of the Adoption and Assistance Child Welfare Act.

Supported class certification in a lawsuit brought on behalf of children in Philadelphia’s foster care system.

Argued for a half-brother’s standing to participate in child welfare proceedings involving his sibling and that the child advocate’s representation of both children constituted a conflict of interest.

Whether a detention center's strip search policy absent probable cause or individualized suspicion violates the Fourth Amendment.

Juvenile Law Center briefed the issue of whether the Congress intended the Military Commissions Act to have jurisdiction over juveniles. The juveniles in question have been held at Guantanamo Bay and subject to interrogation and physical and psychological abuse.

Argued that law violated due process and involved incarceration in jail-like facilities that mixed those already adjudicated delinquent with youth not yet found guilty of a crime.