Decided
Jackson v. Hobbs
Holding
The Eighth Amendment prohibits a sentencing scheme that requires life in prison without the possibility of parole for juvenile homicide offenders.
Judgment
Reversed and remanded, in an opinion by Elena Kagan on Jun 25, 2012. Justice Breyer filed a concurring opinion, in which Justice Sotomayor joined. Chief Justice Roberts filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Scalia, Thomas and Alito joined. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Scalia joined. Justice Alito filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Scalia joined.
Merits Briefs for the Petitioner
Amicus Briefs in Support of the Petitioner
- Brief for Former Juvenile Court Judges
- Brief for The American Psychological Association et al.
- Brief for Amnesty International, et al.
- Brief for Certain Family Members of Victims Killed by Youths (Unavailable)
- Brief of Jeffrey Fagan et al.
- Brief for J. Lawrence Aber et al.
- Brief for Professor of Law and his Students from the Moritz College of Law
- Brief for Juvenile Law Center et al.
- Brief for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund et al.
Merits Brief for the Respondent
- Brief for Ray Hobbs (Unavailable)
Amicus Briefs in support of the respondent
- Brief for Michigan et al. (Unavailable)
- Brief for National District Attorneys Association
- Brief for the National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Lifers (Unavailable)
Certirorai-stage Documents
Related Coverage
Mar 21, 2011Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due April 22, 2011)
Apr 6, 2011Waiver of right of respondent Ray Hobbs, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction to respond filed.
Apr 20, 2011DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 12, 2011.
May 2, 2011Response Requested . (Due June 1, 2011)
Jun 1, 2011Brief of respondent Ray Hobbs, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction in opposition filed.
Jun 13, 2011Reply of petitioner Kuntrell Jackson filed.
Jun 16, 2011DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 26, 2011.
Oct 3, 2011DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 7, 2011.
Oct 11, 2011DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 14, 2011.
Oct 24, 2011DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 28, 2011.
Oct 31, 2011DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 4, 2011.
Nov 7, 2011Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED. The case is to be argued in tandem with No. 10-9646, Miller v. Alabama.
Dec 7, 2011The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including January 9, 2012.
Dec 9, 2011Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or neither party received from counsel for the respondent.
Dec 19, 2011SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, March 20, 2012.
Jan 4, 2012Record from Supreme Court of Arkansas available electronically
Jan 5, 2012Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner.
Jan 9, 2012Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Jan 9, 2012Brief of petitioner Kuntrell Jackson filed.
Jan 13, 2012The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including February 14, 2012.
Jan 13, 2012Brief amici curiae of American Medical Association, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 16, 2012Brief amici curiae of Amnesty International, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 17, 2012Brief amici curiae of Former Juvenile Court Judges filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 17, 2012Brief amici curiae of NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc., et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 17, 2012Brief amici curiae of American Probation and Parole Association, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 17, 2012Brief amicus curiae of American Bar Association filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 17, 2012Brief amici curiae of American Psychological Association, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 17, 2012Brief amici curiae of Certain Family Members of Victims Killed by Youths filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 17, 2012Brief amici curiae of Jeffrey Fagan, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 17, 2012Brief amici curiae of Professor of Law and His Students from Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 17, 2012Brief amici curiae of J. Lawrence Aber, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 17, 2012Brief amici curiae of Juvenile Law Center, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 31, 2012CIRCULATED.
Feb 14, 2012Brief of respondent Ray Hobbs, Director, Arkansas Department of Correction filed. (Distributed)
Feb 21, 2012Brief amicus curiae of National District Attorneys Association filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Feb 21, 2012Brief amicus curiae of National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Lifers filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Feb 21, 2012Brief amici curiae of Michigan, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Feb 24, 2012Motion of Michigan, et al. for leave to participate in oral argument as amici curiae and for divided argument filed. VIDED.
Mar 5, 2012Motion of Michigan, et al. for leave to participate in oral argument as amici curiae and for divided argument DENIED. VIDED.
Mar 12, 2012Reply of petitioner Kuntrell Jackson filed. (Distributed)
Mar 20, 2012Argued. For petitioner: Bryan A. Stevenson, Montgomery, Ala. For respondent: Kent G. Holt, Assistant Attorney General, Little Rock, Ark.
Jun 25, 2012Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Kagan, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Sotomayor, JJ., joined. Breyer, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Sotomayor, J., joined. Roberts, C. J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Scalia, Thomas, and Alito, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Scalia, j., joined. Alito, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Scalia, J., joined. VIDED
Jul 27, 2012MANDATE ISSUED.
Recommended Citation: Jackson v. Hobbs, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/jackson-v-hobbs/