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Top-side briefs in Graham and Sullivan, the two SCOTUS juve LWOP cases

By Douglas A. Berman

Thanks to the folks at the ABA who collect Supreme Court briefs here, we can all now read the top-side merits briefs filed late last week in the two juve LWOP cases, Graham and Sullivan, to be heard next term by Supreme Court (basics here and here).  As I have explained in prior posts (some of which are linked below), I think Graham and Sullivan are the most important Eighth Amendment cases to be heard by the Supreme Court in a long time (and they are also among the most interesting constitutional cases on the current SCOTUS docket).  The top-side merits brief in Graham can be access at this link.  The top-side merits brief in Sullivan can be accessed at this link.  Both are very lengthy because of long appendices. Other recent posts on juve LWOP and the Graham and Sullivan cases: "A Life Term for Rape at 13: Cruel and Unusual?" NYTimes coverage of very young lifers Does Roper suggest young juve LWOP is unconstitutional? Juves serving life terms The next issue in sentencing of juveniles? New HRW report assailing juve LWOP in California LDF report documents disparities in juve LWOP in Mississippi SCOTUS grants cert in Sullivan, juve LWOP case The (unpreserved?) procedural issues in Graham juve LWOP case What might (and should) DOJ and other potential amici say about Graham and Sullivan? Analyzing the cert grants in both Graham and Sullivan House hearing on bill to eliminate juve LWOP sentences Gearing up for the SCOTUS juve LWOP cases on the horizon continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on July 21, 2009 (boomark / email).