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Monday, November 09, 2009

Courts - More on "Justices Weigh Life in Prison for Youths Who Never Killed " [Updated]

Updating this ILB entry from yesterday, stories are now coming in re the oral arguments this morning in the two cases, Graham v. Florida, argued at 10, and Sullivan v. Florida, argued at 11 AM.

Here is Joan Biskupic's long story for USA Today, headed "Justices appear torn over youth offenders." It begins:

WASHINGTON — The lawyer for a Florida man serving life in prison without parole for a crime committed when he was 16 told the Supreme Court Monday that such a sentence tells a youth he is forever unfit to live in society, and is unconstitutionally cruel.

To that, Justice Anthony Kennedy, a likely key vote in the dispute, asked, "Why does a juvenile have a constitutional right to hope, but an adult does not?"

Lawyer Bryan Gowdy responded, "Because the juvenile is different than the adult ... (and) has an inherent capacity to change."

[Updated 11/10/09] How Appealing has a list of post-argument stories here.

Listen to the 6-minute report, "Supreme Court Weighs Life Sentences For Juveniles," by Nina Totenberg, broadcast by NPR's All Things Considered last evening.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 9, 2009 02:49 PM
Posted to Courts in general