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Brief of Eight Million Stories and Lone Star Justice Alliance in Support of Petitioner

The brief argues the state court defied the Supreme Court by ignoring significant new evidence. It asserts this evidence, detailing the defendant's difficult childhood, would have prevented a death sentence.

childhood povertyracemitigating evidenceschool-to-prison pipelinehabeas corpusBlack youth
(2021)

Amicus Curiae Brief for Children’s Defense Fund, et al., in Support of Petitioner

This brief argues the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals failed to properly reconsider a death row inmate's case. It asserts the court ignored evidence of childhood trauma, which could have changed a juror's sentencing decision.

mitigating evidenceyouthful offenderantipsychoticschildhood traumamental healthsolitary confinementyouth-centered expert testimonyantipsychotic medication
(2021)

Brief of National Alliance on Mental Illness and National Association of Social Workers as Amici Curiae Supporting Petitioner

This brief argues the lower court wrongly dismissed evidence of Mr. Andrus's severe childhood trauma and mental illness. It asserts this powerful mitigating evidence could have changed a juror's view of his moral culpability.

adverse childhood experiencesmental illnessmitigating evidencechildhood abusetraumachildhood trauma
(2021)

Brief of Amicus Curiae Robert Earl Hawkins in Support of John Antonio Poole

This brief argues mandatory life without parole for those under 21 is unconstitutional. It asserts young adults share the same developmental characteristics that led the Supreme Court to ban such sentences for juveniles.

prefrontal cortexLWOPMillerMontgomeryhallmark features of youthneurobiological researchlesser blameworthinessages 18-25young adultemerging adultsimpulsivitymurder
(2021)

Brief of Amici Curiae Stephen J. Ziegler, Lynn R. Webster, Michael A. Barnes, & the Center for U.S. Policy in Support of Petitioner

The amici argue that prosecuting doctors for medical errors as criminal acts dangerously blurs lines. They contend the government wrongly equates malpractice with criminal intent, harming patient care and physicians.

Physician prosecutionMedical errorCriminal intentOpioid crisisUntreated painControlled Substances ActMens reaStandard of careGood faith defensePhysician liability
(2021)

Brief of Refugee Advocacy Organizations as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents

The Ninth Circuit correctly ruled that appeals courts cannot make initial adverse credibility findings in asylum cases if the immigration judge and BIA did not. Courts must accept testimony as credible in such instances.

asylumimmigration judgecredibilitytraumapersecutiontestimony non-credible
(2021)

Brief of the Education Civil Rights Alliance, National Center for Youth Law, Juvenile Law Center, National Disability Rights Network, Education Law Center, et al. as Amici Curiae in Support of Appellants

The brief argues the District Court should have granted compensatory education to Havasupai Tribe members. This remedy would address the Bureau of Indian Education’s failure to provide a quality education, as required by law.

compensatory educationHavasupai TribeIndian Education ActAdministrative Procedure Acteducational services
(2021)

Brief of Advocates for Child Victims of Domestic Violence as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioner

The brief argues that Texas wrongly reinstated a death sentence by ignoring evidence of a defendant's severe childhood trauma. It claims this evidence could have swayed a juror and aligns with prior Supreme Court rulings.

death rowmitigating evidenceadverse childhood experiencesdevelopmental psychologyhabeas hearingdeath penalty
(2021)

35 faith leaders say blocking Safehouse's overdose-prevention site violates their religious freedom. Their faiths command them to preserve life and show compassion to those in need.

Defendants argue an overdose prevention site would save lives by providing a supervised, hygienic space for drug consumption with immediate medical care and referrals, without violating federal law.

(2020)

Brief of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians, the Association of Cannabis Specialists, the Drug Policy Alliance, and the Americans for Safe Access Foundation as Amici Curiae

This brief argues that a judicial district's policy prohibiting medical marijuana for probationers unlawfully overrides state law. It contends the policy endangers patients by denying physician-approved treatment and lacks scientific basis.

medical marijuanaprobation supervisionPennsylvania lawMedical Marijuana Act52nd Judicial Districtpatient rightsmedical treatmentpolicy conflictDepartment of Health
(2020)

Brief of Amicus Curiae National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Petitioner

NACDL argues the "trial tax" penalizes defendants who exercise their right to a jury trial with harsher sentences. This practice undermines justice, truth-seeking, and disproportionately affects young people.

trial taxyouthdiminished culpabilitydecision-makingimpaired capacitypeer pressureSixth Amendment (U.S.)plea bargains
(2020)

Brief of the National Association for Public Defense, the Children’s Law Center, Inc., and the Institute for Compassion in Justice as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioner

This brief argues that 18-year-olds are a distinct group due to their development and legal status, warranting an exemption from execution. It claims a national consensus opposes this practice, which serves no penological purpose.

Eighth Amendmentemerging adultexecutionEqual Protection Clausedeath sentencedevelopmental statusdisproportionate sentenceFourteenth Amendmentyoung adult
(2020)

Brief of Erwin Chemerinsky, et al. as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioner

This brief argues that juveniles can only receive life without parole if a court finds them permanently incorrigible. It states the sentencing court failed to make this finding for the petitioner.

Eighth Amendment (U.S.)proportionate sentencesMillerLWOPlife without paroletransient immaturity
(2020)

Brief of Amici Curiae National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Mississippi Office of the State Public Defender, and Mississippi Public Defenders Association in Support of Petitioner

This brief argues that sentencing a juvenile to life without parole requires a specific finding of permanent incorrigibility. Mississippi's current practices are challenged as they fail to reliably implement this rule.

permanent incorrigibilityincapable of rehabilitationMillerMontgomerytransient immaturityLWOPattendant characteristics of youthcapacity for change
(2020)

Brief of Amicus Curiae Juvenile Law Center in Support of Petitioner-Appellee Luis Noel Cruz and Affirmance

This brief argues mandatory life without parole for young adults is unconstitutional. It states young adults share the same developmental characteristics that reduce culpability for juveniles.

neurodevelopmental growthyoung adults18-year-oldsdevelopmental characteristicsmandatory sentencesLWOPmandatory life without paroleEighth Amendment (U.S.)
(2020)
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