In this Washington University Law Review, Drinan analyzes the response to recent rulings by the Supreme Court striking down a majority of the states� juvenile sentencing laws, outlawing life without parole for juveniles who commit non-homicide offenses and mandating individualized sentencing for those children who commit even the most serious crimes. She concludes that state actors have failed to comply with the Court�s mandate, and maps out a path for future compliance that relies heavily upon the strength and agility of the executive branch.
Learn MoreIn Graham v. Florida, the U.S. Supreme Court held that it is unconstitutional to sentence a non-homicide juvenile offender to life in prison without parole. In this Washington Law Review article, Drinan answers several key questions about the ruling, including: To whom does the Graham decision apply? What is the appropriate remedy for those inmates? What affirmative obligations does the Graham decision impose upon the states?
Learn MoreFor years, scholars have documented the national crisis in indigent defense and its many tragic implications, and yet the crisis persists. In this NYU Review of Law and Social Change article, Drinan distills from the recent body of suits a model for indigent defense litigation that emphasizes empirical grounding, extensive alliances of support, and requests for sweeping reform.
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