Commonwealth v. Mattis
Held that life without parole sentences are unconstitutional as applied to emerging adults (ages 18–20)
A project of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law
© 2026 Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law
Related Commentary
A Conversation with Professor Robert Williams About the Abortion Case He Lost Four Decades Ago
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court case, which was overturned in 2024, unanimously upheld the state’s ban on funding abortion through state Medicaid.
Limiting the Damage of the Juvenile Sentencing Case I Lost
Half a decade after the U.S. Supreme Court signaled it wouldn’t extend protections for children facing life without parole, state constitutions offer hope.
Pennsylvania's Groundbreaking Ruling Limiting Mandatory Life Sentences
Breaking with decades of precedent, the court ruled that mandatory life without parole for felony murder violates the state constitution’s ban on “cruel punishments.”
Behind the Movement Toward Humane Punishment
A recent Pennsylvania decision barring mandatory life without parole for felony murder is part of an accelerating trend toward broad state constitutional protections for people in the criminal justice system.