Graham v. Florida

Summary

The Court held that the Eighth Amendment prohibits sentencing a juvenile offender to life in prison without parole for a nonhomicide crime. The Court applied a categorical approach, finding no national consensus supporting the practice and concluding it violates evolving standards of decency due to juveniles' diminished culpability and the severity of the sentence. Justice Thomas dissented, arguing against proportionality review for noncapital sentences.