Retroactive juvenile life without parole
Montgomery v. Louisiana
In brief
The Supreme Court said it could review Louisiana’s refusal to apply Miller, overturned the state court’s judgment, and sent Montgomery’s case back to Louisiana’s courts.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 6-3 · January 25, 2016 · Opinion by Justice Kennedy
- What it’s about
- Henry Montgomery asked Louisiana to apply Miller, which bars mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juveniles convicted of homicide, to his case.
- Who it affects
- Montgomery’s challenge returns to Louisiana’s courts, but the ruling does not state what sentence or other relief he will receive.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court ruled it had authority to review Louisiana’s refusal, overturned the state court’s judgment, and sent the case back to the lower court (remanded).
The dispute asked whether Miller v. Alabama’s rule reached sentences imposed before that decision.
Question presented
1. Does the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Miller v. Alabama , which held that the Eighth Amendment prohibits mandatory sentencing schemes that require children convicted of homicide to be sentenced to life in prison without parole, apply retroactively? 2. Does the U.S. Supreme Court have the jurisdiction to review the Louisiana Supreme Court’s determination that the Miller rule does not apply retroactively?
What the Court decided
Holding
This Court has jurisdiction to decide whether the Louisiana Supreme Court correctly refused to give retroactive effect to Miller.
- Result
- Reversed
The vote
From the opinions
“The Court has no jurisdiction to decide this case, and the decision it arrives at is wrong.”
What's next
The case returns to Louisiana’s courts for further proceedings.
Documents
Opinions
Docket activity
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AI analysis generated: Impact Analysis
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Opinion added: Montgomery
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.