Question

In two pages maximum, please discuss (1) what this case (Montgomery v Lousiana) was about (the issues the US Supreme Court was asked to consider), (2) who supports the ban on mandatory life-without-parole sentences on juveniles and why, (3) who opposes the ban on mandatory life-without-parole (in other words, wants to be able to sentence juveniles to mandatory life-without-parole) and why, (4) where do you stand regarding this issue/court case and why?

Answer 1

(1) What this case (Montgomery v Lousiana) was about (the issues the US Supreme Court was asked to consider)

Henry Montgomery was seventeen when he shot a police officer and killed him in 1963.He was convicted for the murder and sentenced to death. Although he escaped from the prison he was caught back and put into the prison again. Because the jury was not in unison, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1969. He became very popular in the prison by becoming the boxing coach, working on the silk-screen program and counseling young prisoners.

(2) Who supports the ban on mandatory life-without-parole sentences on juveniles and why

Chief Justice Bernette Joshua Johnson supported the mandatory life without parole on Juveniles. While the case was brought to the Supreme Court again, Justice Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito went against the decision of granting life with parole.

Antonin Scalia pointed out that it would be difficult for the judges to decide whether someone who was sentenced a long time ago, good or bad. Clarence Thomas told that this decision of revising the sentence repudiates the established principles of finality.

(3) Who opposes the ban on mandatory life-without-parole (in other words, wants to be able to sentence juveniles to mandatory life-without-parole) and why?

The sentence in favor of Montgomery was supported by Justice Anthony Kennedy, John Roberts, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. They all referred to the Miller V Alabama case, which shed light on the juvenile cases saying that they should be granted parole.

(4) Where do you stand regarding this issue/court case and why?

I think in the eyes of the law everyone is same but the circumstances of the crime should also be taken into consideration. Besides, people who committed crime out of emotional outburst while they were juveniles should be considered for parole if their conduct in the prison is good. In this case he became the boxing coach, worked on the silk-screen program and counseled young prisoners while serving his sentence. So he can be given parole.