SCOTUS Argument Transcript
On May 17, 2010 the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that it is unconstitutional to sentence a person under age 18 to life without parole when they did not commit murder. Graham v. Florida was argued on November 9, 2009 along with Sullivan v. Florida. The court was asked to consider whether or not sentencing youth to life without parole was constitutional only in non-homicide cases.
Campaign Advisory Committee member Bryan Stevenson argued on behalf of Joe Sullivan who was convicted of sexual battery when he was thirteen years old and then sentenced to die in prison. More information about the cases can be found on the Equal Justice Initiative website.
Recent articles on JLWOP and the Supreme Court:
- Transcript of the oral arguments in Miller v Alabama ()
- Youthful offenders deserve a second chance (Los Angeles Times)
- Young criminals, appropriate punishment (Philadelphia Daily News)
- Kids Do Criminal Things, But Prison for Life? (ABC News Nightline)
- Supreme Court ruling opens door for juvenile justice reform (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
- Let juvenile offenders have reason for hope (Des Moines Register)
Juvenile Life Without Parole for Non-Homicide Offences: Florida Compared to Nation
Amicus briefs filed in Graham v. Florida and Sullivan v. Florida
American Medical Association & the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Center on the Administration of Criminal Law
