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Brief Amicus Curiae of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation in Support of Respondents
The brief argues the state court decision rests on independent state grounds. A clearly correct federal premise is insufficient for Supreme Court jurisdiction to review a different federal question.
Brief for the States of Louisiana, et Al., as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondent
This brief argues states should retain power to sentence violent juvenile offenders to life without parole.
Brief for the National District Attorneys Association as Amicus Curiae in Support of Respondent
The brief argues against automatically banning life without parole for all juvenile offenders. It asserts that such sentences should be judged based on individual crime severity and the offender's history, not age alone.
Brief of Sixteen Members of the United States House of Representatives as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondent
This brief argues Florida can impose life without parole on juveniles. It contends claims that the US is alone in doing so are false and that international legal obligations do not prohibit such sentences.
Wyeth v. Levine
The Court ruled FDA drug label approval does not prevent state lawsuits over inadequate warnings. Injured patients can sue drug makers for insufficient information, as seen with Levine's Phenergan injection.
Brief of the Sentencing Project as Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioners
This brief argues that mandatory life without parole sentences for juveniles violate the Eighth Amendment. It asserts that juveniles are less culpable than adults and deserve individualized sentencing.
Problems with Access to Adolescent Mental Health Care Can Lead to Dealings with the Criminal Justice System
Many young people experience mental health problems, yet few receive adequate treatment. This gap often leads to youth with mental health needs entering the criminal justice system, which is ill-equipped to provide care.
Psychosocial Stress Reversibly Disrupts Prefrontal Processing and Attentional Control
A study found chronic stress hinders attention shifts, a key function of the prefrontal cortex, but not other cognitive tasks. These stress effects on brain function were shown to be reversible.
The Influence of Substance Use on Adolescent Brain Development
Adolescent substance use, including alcohol and marijuana, can subtly but significantly alter brain structure and function. This may lead to lasting problems with memory, attention, and other cognitive abilities, even after use stops.
Trajectories of Antisocial Behavior and Psychosocial Maturity from Adolescence to Young Adulthood
Antisocial behavior typically peaks around age 17 and declines into adulthood, but some individuals continue this behavior. Researchers distinguish between those who desist and those whose antisocial behavior persists.
Adolescent Maturity and the Brain: The Promise and Pitfalls of Neuroscience Research in Adolescent Health Policy
Adolescence involves continued brain development, challenging prior assumptions. Frontal lobes, crucial for executive functions, mature late, raising questions about linking brain development to judgment and policy.
Porter v. McCollum
The Supreme Court ruled that a lawyer's failure to investigate a client's combat trauma and brain impairment harmed the defense, as this evidence could have changed the jury's sentencing decision.
State v. Clopten
The court held that expert testimony on eyewitness identification should be allowed when a stranger is identified and reliability factors exist. This is because experts educate juries better than cross-examination or instructions alone.
Adolescent Development and the Regulation of Youth Crime
Juvenile justice policy shifted significantly, moving from a rehabilitative approach for young lawbreakers to holding them accountable like adults.
In re William M.
The Nevada Supreme Court ruled a state law unconstitutional because it forced juveniles to admit guilt to avoid adult court, violating their Fifth Amendment rights. The Court found this created an unfair dilemma.