As many of you know, the United States Supreme Court heard oral argument
yesterday in Roper v. Simmons regarding the case of Christopher Simmons,
a juvenile offender who had been on death row in Missouri. In 2003, the
Missouri Supreme Court set aside Simmons's death sentence and
resentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The Missouri court held that a national consensus against executing
juvenile offenders had developed and, therefore, the practice was
unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment of the United States
Constitution. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to release its
decision by June 2005.

Thanks to all who have contributed to the amazing efforts on this case
and issue.

If you would like to read the briefs submitted to the Supreme Court in
this case, they are available at
http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/juvjus/simmons/simmonsamicus.html (http://www.abanet.org/crimjust/juvjus/simmons/simmonsamicus.html).

This is a sad case.The system needs to help our youth that are in trouble.They are quick to condem them when they make mistakes. I feel our system failed when he needed them most.

I agree!!

This is a quote from the link above."Older adolescents behave differently than adults because their minds operate differently, their emotions are more volatile, and their brains are anatomically immature. "

This is actually a biological fact. The human brain does not fully develop until a person is in their 20's. How can we hold a juvenile to the standard of an adult when they physically do not have the ability to make adult decisions? Well I am glad this juvenile won his life "back." However, LIFE for a juvenile seems extreme to me!