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Brief Amici Curiae of Concerned Psychiatrists, Psychologists and Neuropsychologists in Support of Petition for Writ of Certiorari
The brief argues that new scientific consensus on brain development, trauma, and substance abuse means young adults may share cognitive characteristics with juveniles. It urges the Court to consider these factors in death penalty cases.
Commonwealth v. Eldred
The court upheld a probation violation for fentanyl use, ruling that relapse, even with addiction as a disease, was a willful breach of a drug-free condition. This condition was considered treatment-oriented.
Pesce v. Coppinger
A federal court ordered a jail to provide methadone to an inmate for opioid use disorder. Officials likely violated disability and cruel and unusual punishment laws by refusing his prescribed treatment.
Breaux v. Bollinger Shipyards, LLC
The court allowed an employee's discrimination claims to proceed after being fired for Suboxone use. It dismissed a privacy claim, finding no unreasonable intrusion.
Bonnifield v. Lewis
The court upheld a conviction despite expert testimony of drug-induced psychosis, ruling California law prohibits insanity defenses based solely on substance abuse.
Commonwealth v. Plasse
The Massachusetts SJC upheld a sentence where a judge considered the defendant's need for addiction treatment. Rehabilitation is a valid factor in sentencing decisions.
State v. Michel
The Florida Supreme Court ruled that juvenile offenders sentenced to life with parole after 25 years are not eligible for resentencing, distinguishing it from cases of life without parole.
People v. Wines
The court ruled that judges must consider a juvenile offender's youth during resentencing, even if the new sentence is not life without parole. This applied to Mr. Wines, who was a juvenile when convicted of felony murder and other crimes.
People v. Skinner
The Michigan Supreme Court ruled that a separate finding of permanent incorrigibility is not required to sentence a juvenile offender to life without parole.
Malvo v. Mathena
Lee Malvo, a D.C. sniper, appealed his life without parole sentence. His appeals, citing mental impairment and Eighth Amendment violations, were denied; he remains in prison.
State v. Seam
The court found a life sentence with parole for a defendant did not violate his constitutional rights. The prior ruling on juvenile life sentences without parole did not apply.
In the Interest of C.K.
The New Jersey Supreme Court found the state's lifetime Megan's Law requirements for juvenile sex offenders unconstitutional. The Court ruled these requirements were overly punitive and lacked a rational basis for juveniles.
State v. J.R.
The Court ruled that a juvenile's curfew violation provided probable cause for arrest, justifying the search that uncovered controlled substances. Evidence found during the search was admissible.
Morrow v. Ford
The court denied Morrow's appeal, finding his attorneys were not ineffective for their handling of mitigating evidence or for not hiring an independent crime scene expert.
Justin Burrell v. State of Delaware
The Delaware Supreme Court reviewed jury instructions for Justin Burrell's murder conviction. It aimed to determine if self-defense laws were fairly presented for the then-17-year-old.