October Term 2020 · Docket 18-1259
Does a life sentence for a juvenile require a formal finding of permanent incorrigibility?
Jones argues a formal finding is required. Mississippi argues no specific finding is needed.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Shapiro argued most children are capable of redemption.
Liu argued Montgomery already answered the main legal question.
Nobile explained the lower court applied Miller as substantive.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 53-37 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 53-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-55 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-39 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 13-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether juvenile life sentences need a formal finding of permanent incorrigibility.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-55 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-39 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 13-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 3, 2020.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 45-45
What each side wants
Jones wants a formal finding of permanent incorrigibility.
Mississippi wants no specific finding requirement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-55 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-39 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 13-51
What each side says
Jones argues Miller requires a substantive finding of incorrigibility.
Mississippi argues Miller does not require an affirmative finding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-55 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-39 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 13-51
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if Miller is substantive without Montgomery.
Justice Alito asked if any human is incapable of redemption.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 53-37 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 53-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-15
Why it matters
This defines the procedural floor for juvenile life sentences.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-55 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-39 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 13-51
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 10, lines 47-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-7 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 53-37 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 53-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 53-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 53-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-15
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-55 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-39 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 13-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-55 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-39 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 85, lines 13-51 — Transcript, file page 85, lines 13-51
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.