October Term 2011 · Docket 10-9646
Can states mandate life without parole for juvenile offenders?
the sides that brought the case seek to ban mandatory life sentences for minors. the opposing sides defend the practice as a valid penalty for aggravated murder.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Stevenson argued children have unique traits. He said these traits limit culpability.
Neiman argued the sentence fits the crime. He cited national consensus and penological goals.
questions_and_answers
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the Eighth Amendment. It asks if mandatory life sentences for juveniles violate constitutional limits on punishment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 20, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-47
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a constitutional ban on mandatory life sentences for minors.
the opposing sides want to keep mandatory life sentences for juvenile aggravated murder.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-47
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue children lack adult culpability. They claim mandatory sentences ignore individual circumstances.
the opposing sides argue the penalty fits the crime. They claim national consensus supports this punishment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-47
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if the sentence is always or never permitted.
Justice Scalia asked if fifty years is too much time in prison.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-11
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of juvenile punishment. It determines whether states can impose the harshest penalty on young offenders without individualized review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-47
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-11
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-47
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.