It’s a landmark decision from the Michigan Supreme Court.
The court has ruled that 19 and 20-year-olds convicted of murder can no longer receive mandatory life sentences. The court made a similar decision for 18-year-olds back in 2022.
Tina Olson was one of the attorneys who argued in front of the Supreme Court. She says this decision is exactly what her team hoped for.
“What this decision means is that they will be allowed to go back to court,” Olson said. “The prosecution will have the option of asking for life without parole again, but has a very high burden in establishing that that’s the appropriate sentence for someone who was a teenager at the time of the offense.”
Olson says the decision is in line with existing scientific consensus, which shows brain development is not complete until a person is in their mid-20s.
The court ruled five to two that mandatory life sentences for 19 and 20-year-olds violate a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
