Abdul-Kabir v. Quarterman

Juvenile Law Center filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of the United States to determine whether a Texas capital sentencing statute unconstitutionally precluded the jury from considering evidence of childhood trauma as mitigating evidence.

Juvenile Law Center’s brief argued that evidence of childhood or adolescent trauma—including evidence of child abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and mental illness—is relevant mitigating evidence as applied to punishment in a capital case.

The Supreme Court supported Juvenile Law Center’s argument, holding that the Texas capital sentencing statute impermissibly prevented the jury from giving meaningful consideration and effect to constitutionally relevant mitigating evidence.