Supreme Court Ruling on Juveniles Has Biggest Impact in Florida

Citing “evolving standards of decency” worldwide, a majority of the US Supreme Court ruled yesterday that life in prison without parole is “cruel and unusual punishment” for juveniles who’ve committed crimes other than murder. Dissenters said states ought to decide the issue. Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy noted that 77 of the 129 juveniles serving life without parole for crimes less than murder are in Florida. The case that was decided involved Terrence Graham, who attempted to rob a restaurant when he was 16.