Breaking News: In a 5-4 decision, the US Supreme Court has just ruled that the Eighth Amendment forbids a scheme of life in prison without possibility of parole for juveniles.
Miller v. Alabama, Jackson v. Hobbs - 20 March 2012
Amicus members Professor Julian Killingley, solicitor Hannah Gorman and Mark George QC have been involved in assisting with the drafting of an amicus brief in the above case. The issue in the case is whether the 8th Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment makes it unconstitutional to sentence juveniles to life without parole (LWOP) for offences of murder committed before they turned 18 years of age. This follows on from the case of Graham v. Florida in 2009 in which the US Supreme Court held juvenile LWOP unconstitutional for non-homicide offences. The amicus brief is supported by the Bar Human Rights Committee, the Law Society of England & Wales and a large number of international Bar associations.
The case was heard on 20 March 2012 and we will bring you an update as soon as possible.
View the transcript of oral argument as heard on 20 March or the amicus curiae submission.