Wayne Treacy v. Ai Lamberti, as Sheriff of Broward County, Florida

Summary

The court held that a juvenile charged with a nonhomicide offense cannot be treated as charged with an offense punishable by life imprisonment when applicable law provides no possibility of parole and constitutional law bars a life-without-parole sentence. Under the plain language of the Florida Constitution, the juvenile was therefore entitled to pretrial release on reasonable conditions rather than categorical denial of bond. The court retained jurisdiction despite mootness because the issue was of great public importance and likely to recur.