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Commonwealth v. Romanelli
A juvenile offender initially sentenced to life without parole for murder appealed his resentencing. The court found the lower court failed to consider rehabilitation potential, vacating the sentence and remanding the case.
State v. Diaz
The court upheld a juvenile's transfer to adult court for assault but ordered a hearing on whether Miranda rights were knowingly waived before her statements to police.
Kelsey v. State
The Florida Supreme Court ruled that a ban on life sentences for juvenile non-homicide offenders applied retroactively. However, the Court found Kelsey's resentenced term of years to be appropriate given his crimes.
Commonwealth v. Jones
The court held that mandatory life sentences for juveniles are unconstitutional. It ordered a new sentencing hearing for Jones, who was sentenced as a juvenile, to consider his youth and rehabilitation potential.
Vasquez v. Virginia
The Virginia Supreme Court upheld a lengthy sentence for a juvenile offender's felonies. The court ruled the sentence was not cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.
Commonwealth v. Phillips
The court found a juvenile's life sentence without parole was untimely challenged. Although mandatory juvenile life sentences are unconstitutional, this ruling did not automatically apply to Phillips's old case.
State v. Long
The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that juvenile life without parole sentences require courts to consider youth and rehabilitation potential. This partially affirmed a juvenile offender's challenge to his sentence for multiple murders.
Moore v. Gwathney
A federal case argues Alabama's parole board makes release impossible for people sentenced as juveniles to life without parole. The plaintiffs seek a court order for a meaningful chance at parole.
Kedrowitz v. State
The court affirmed a 100-year sentence for a 13-year-old who killed his siblings. It found the defendant competent and the sentence not cruel or unusual, despite arguments about his youth.
People v. Hardin
The California Supreme Court upheld a life without parole sentence for a 25-year-old. The court found no equal protection violation in denying parole opportunities available to younger offenders.
Commonwealth v. King
The court denied King’s appeal to overturn a previous order. He sought post-conviction relief regarding his original case.
People v. Taylor
The Michigan Supreme Court held that mandatory life without parole for juveniles is unconstitutional and applies retroactively. Robert Taylor's case was sent back for resentencing to consider his youth.
People v. Paredes
A 17-year-old convicted of murder challenged his mandatory life sentence. The court upheld it, citing his leadership and efforts to hide evidence, despite a ruling against such sentences for juveniles.
Montgomery v. Louisiana
The Supreme Court ruled that a previous ban on mandatory life without parole for juveniles applies retroactively. Henry Montgomery, sentenced as a 17-year-old, gained a chance for resentencing with parole.
Hartigan v. Zbaraz
The Illinois Parental Notice Abortion Act, requiring minors to notify a parent before an abortion, was found unconstitutional. A federal court ruled the waiting period and judicial bypass procedures created an undue burden.