Graham v. Florida

Following is the case brief for Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48 (2010). Case Summary of Graham v. Florida: Petitioner Graham committed two robbery-type offenses before he was 18 years old.  He was ultimately sentenced to life without parole. Graham challenged his sentence as violative of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment.  The Florida state courts denied […]

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Miller v. Alabama

Following is the case brief for Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. Supreme Court (2012). Case Summary of Miller v. Alabama: This case involves two companion cases.  In both cases, a 14-year-old was convicted of murder and sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison without parole. Both defendants argued that a sentence of life without parole for a juvenile violates the […]

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Roper v. Simmons

Following is the case brief for Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005). Case Summary of Roper v. Simmons: Simmons, age 17, planned and committed a capital murder.  He was sentenced to death.  His direct appeal and petitions for relief were rejected. When the Supreme Court decided Atkins v. Virginia in 2002 (barring executions for the mentally disabled), Simmons filed a new […]

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Delinquency

The term delinquency refers to either something that is late in being done, such as making a late credit card payment, or to improper or criminal behavior. In a legal context, delinquency is most often used in reference to the disorderly or illegal actions engaged in by a youth. Juvenile delinquency is grouped into two categories, one more serious than […]

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