Graham v. Florida

Holding: Sentencing a juvenile to life in prison without parole for crimes other than murder violates the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual? punishment.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 6-3, in an opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy on April 22, 2025. Justice Thomas dissented, joined by Justice Scalia and in part by Justice Alito. Justice Alito also dissented in an opinion for himself. Justice Stevens concurred, joined by Ginsburg and Sotomayor, even though these three Justices also joined the Kennedy majority opinion.

Briefs and Documents

Merits Briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Terrance Jamar Graham
• Brief for Respondent the State of Florida
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Terrance Jamar Graham

Amicus Briefs

• Brief for the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, the American Catholic Correctional Chaplains Association, the American Correctional Chaplains Association, the American Friends Service Committee, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Church Women United, the Council of Churches of the City of New York, Engaged Zen Foundation, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ, Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, Mormons for Equality and Social Justice, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, the National Council of Jewish Women, New Jersey Regional Coalition, Office of Restorative Justice, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Prison Fellowship Ministries, Progressive Jewish Alliance, Queens Federation of Churches, Rev. Dwight Lundgren, Sister JoAnne Talarico, Trinity United Methodist Church, and United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the American Bar Association in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Support of Neither Party
• Brief for the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, National Association of Social Workers, And Mental Health America in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Amnesty International, et al., in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the the Center on the Administration of Criminal Law in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators, the National Association for Juvenile Correctional Agencies, the National Juvenile Detention Association, the National Partnership for Juvenile Services, the American Probation and Parole Association, and the International Community Corrections Association in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Disability Rights Legal Center in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Educators in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for J. Lawrence Aber, Marc S. Atkins, Camilla P. Benbow, Mary M. Brabeck, Jerome Bruner, Hardin L.K. Coleman, Jane C. Conoley, Kenneth A. Dodge, Michelle Fine, Douglas Fuchs, Lynn S. Fuchs, Frances M. Jensen, Brinton Lykes, Jacqueline Mattis, Pedro Noguera, Isaac Prilleltensky and Niobe Way in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Former Juvenile Offenders Charles S. Dutton, Former Sen. Alan K. Simpson, R. Dwayne Betts, Luis Rodriguez, Terry K. Ray, T.J. Parsell, And Ishmael Beah in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Juvenile Law Center, the National Juvenile Defender Center, and the Children and Family Justice Center in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Mothers Against Murders Association, Robert Hoelscher, Ruth Johnson, Azim Khamisa, Bill Pelke, Aqueela Sherrills, Tammi Smith and Linda White in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc., Charles Hamilton Houston Institute For Race & Justice, and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the National District Attorneys Association in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Lifers in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the Sentencing Project in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Sixteen Members of the United States House of Representatives in Support of Respondent
• Brief for the State of Louisiana in Support of Respondent

Certiorari-stage documents

• Opinion below (District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District)