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Supreme Court considers juvenile life sentences

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    Two cases being heard by highest court

  • Duration 2:21
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Engine now on the latest challenge for the US Supreme Court.

It involves terrible crimes young people.

And just how much of their lives they should spend paying for those crops here's correspondent -- bring.

-- -- -- it every day TD Cheatham is father was killed in 2003.

And an Alabama jury convicted Evan Miller who was fourteen at the time of the murder.

Miller was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Today attorney Brian Stevenson took Miller's case and that of another convicted teen murder before the Supreme Court.

To argue that imprisoning them with no chance of release is unconstitutional.

To say that any child.

That your fit only to die in prison we content is cruel and unusual punishment and were hoping that the court will exercise its constitutional rights and power.

And prohibited him and both of these cases yet there's a dispute about whether it's a constitutional issue at all or one left solely to states' authority.

During today's arguments justice Antonin Scalia -- quote.

Something like 39 states allow what I mean the American people you know have decided that that's the rule.

So I'm supposed to impose my mind judgment on on what seems to be consensus of the American people.

-- -- Alabama lawmakers and judges have every right to mete out the tough sentence and that Miller had full due process.

He had -- I jury trial at all females.

Eight at the trail for met -- -- convicted PM at capital murder a number of justices -- expressed real concern about where to draw the line.

Justice Stephen Breyer asked quote is there any constitutional minimum at all in respect to which you could -- for a murder a child life without parole.

I mean you could have an instance of a ten year old or an eight year old I mean is it totally up to the states or is there a minimum Alabama solicitor general John -- refused to speculate.

There may well be a a lion and beyond which states can't -- life without parole since this is a matter constitutional law but that line -- surely somewhere below.

Fourteen.

Family members of the victims said today that if these offenders are allowed to apply for parole simply because of their age.

That -- -- will be forced to re live the crimes over and over.

The attorney for the two young men charged though argue that juvenile offenders have the best record of being rehabilitated.

And should be given that chance -- --

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