Posts in 'Amicus Curiae'

Briefed the issue of right to counsel for juveniles and the procedures that must be brought to bear before waiver is granted.

Argued against Colorado’s “direct file” statute on the grounds that it violates equal protection guarantees, contravenes separation of powers principles, and denies a defendant due process where statute allows sentencing as an adult following conviction for a crime that would not have made him eligible for adult prosecution.

Juvenile Law Center briefed the issue of a juvenile’s consent to a search of his home and voluntary waiver of his Miranda rights.

Briefed the issue of a juvenile’s right to have his name removed from a statewide central register as a perpetrator of child abuse.

Texas capital sentencing statute that prevented juries from considering evidence of childhood trauma found unconstitutional in that it precluded giving consideration and effect to relevant mitigating evidence.

Juvenile Law Center briefed and argued the question of the constitutionality of a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole imposed on a 17-year-old in Alabama.

Argued that a 12-year-old’s sentence of 30 years without the possibility of parole violates the Eighth Amendment.

Argued that the court should recognize a youth’s constitutional right to a jury trial when he faces public sex offender registration upon conviction of sex offenses under Kansas’ juvenile court statute.

Briefed the issue of constitutionality of a state certification statute that requires juveniles, in violation of their right to due process and against self-incrimination, to admit guilt in order to rebut the presumption of certification to adult court.

Juvenile Law Center’s brief argues that the mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole imposed on a 16-year-old is a disproportionate punishment under the U.S. and Massachusetts Constitutions.