Big Day at Supreme Court, Though No Health Care Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court issued several significant opinions today, though not the much-anticipated health care opinion, which is now expected Thursday. In addition to striking down (5-3 with Justice Kagan recusing) much of Arizona's controversial immigration law, the court ruled (5-4) that mandatory life without the possibility for parole sentences are unconstitutional for juveniles. As we have noted previously, Moritz Professor Doug Berman and some of his students submitted an amicus brief in the juvenile sentencing case. Check Professor Berman's Sentencing Law and Policy blog for his preliminary thoughts on the opinion. Also see initial analysis of the Arizona immigration case and the juvenile sentencing case on SCOTUSblog.