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State v. Mantich
The Nebraska Supreme Court vacated a life sentence for Douglas Mantich, who was 15 when convicted of murder. His mandatory life sentence violated the Eighth Amendment as functionally equivalent to life without parole for a juvenile.
People v. Davis
The Illinois Supreme Court vacated a life sentence for a defendant convicted of murder at age 14. Mandatory life without parole for juveniles is cruel and unusual punishment.
Bear Cloud v. State
A juvenile convicted of murder received a new sentence of life with parole after 25 years. The Wyoming Supreme Court found this consecutive sentence equaled life without parole and sent it back for review due to Miller v. Alabama.
Aiken v. Byars
The court ruled that juveniles sentenced to life without parole are entitled to resentencing. This aligns with the principle that juvenile brains are not fully developed, warranting a different approach to punishment.
State v Lyle
The Iowa Supreme Court found mandatory minimum sentences for juvenile offenders unconstitutional under the state's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The Court emphasized individualized sentencing for juveniles.
People v. Chavez
The California Court of Appeal ruled that two juveniles sentenced to life without parole for murder deserve new sentencing consideration based on their ages at the time of the crime.
Brief of Amici Curiae Juvenile Law Center et al. in Support of Appellee Edwin Ike Mares
This brief argues that mandatory life without parole for juveniles is unconstitutional. It asserts that Wyoming's current law, offering parole review after 25 years, still fails to provide required individualized sentencing hearings.
Amicus Curiae Brief of the Students of Father Gabriel Richard High School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
This brief, written by high school students, argues that juveniles possess a unique capacity for redemption. It highlights the influence of environment and peer pressure on young people.
Brief of Amici Curiae Dr. Beatriz Luna, Dr. Charles Alexander Nelson III, Dr. Silvia Bunge, Dr. Adriana Galvan, and Dr. Linda Patia Spear in Support of Neither Party
Courts can consider scientific evidence on adolescent brain development when determining constitutional limits on juvenile sentencing. The human brain undergoes significant changes in structure, function, and chemistry during adolescence.
Brief in Support of the Resentencing of Petitioner Angel Alejandro on Behalf of Amici Curiae Robert M. Morgenthau, the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, Child Welfare League of America, and Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators et al.
This brief argues that Angel Alejandro's resentencing should reject U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. It contends new juvenile justice science supports a reduced sentence, reflecting his diminished culpability as a minor.
Brief for the Center for Children, Law & Policy, University of Houston Law Center as Amicus Curiae
This brief argues that Texas juvenile courts can only transfer children to adult court when strict legal procedures are followed. Ignoring these rules violates due process for juveniles and undermines the juvenile justice system's purpose.
Amicus Curiae Brief of Columbia Legal Services
The brief argues that open juvenile records disproportionately harm youth of color due to existing racial disparities in the justice system. It contends that adding more record sealing requirements will worsen these disparities.
Brief of Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan
The brief argues that life without parole for youth convicted of felony murder under aiding and abetting is unconstitutional. It claims these sentences are disproportionate to the youths' reduced culpability.
Brief of Amici Curiae Juvenile Law Center et al., Supporting Appellee Songster
The brief argues that mandatory life without parole sentences for juveniles are unconstitutional, citing a Supreme Court ruling. This ruling should apply retroactively to previous cases, making the appellee's sentence invalid.
Brief of Amici Curiae Juvenile Law Center on Behalf of Respondent
This brief argues that mandatory life without parole sentences for juveniles are unconstitutional, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Miller v. Alabama. It asserts this rule should apply retroactively to cases like the respondent's.