Legal Updates
In 2012, Miller v. Alabama ruled that mandatory life sentences with no possibility or parole for children were unconstitutional. In 2016, Montgomery v. Louisiana ruled that this should be applied retroactively.
Unfortunately, the courts in Missouri ruled that this does not affect Bobby's case, because even though he effectively has been sentenced to die in prison, technically, he did not receive a life-sentence. Officially, Bobby received an extremely long-sentence, with the theoretical possibility of parole in extreme old age.
The American Civil Liberties Association (ACLU) subsequently petitioned the US Supreme Court to re-open Bobby's case. Unfortunately, in April 2018, the court rejected his appeal, like so many others, without giving any reason for doing so.
In response, Bobby and his supporters instead began lobbying for a change in the law. In May 2021, an amendment inspired by Bostic's case was added to Senate Bill 26, giving anyone who committed a crime other than murder as a child the possibility of parole after 15 years. Bobby became eligible to apply for parole on August 28, 2021, and has been given a parole date of November 9, 2022. There are still ways you can help Bobby though; please click here for more details.
Read news coverage of Bobby's case by clicking here.
Read legal cases regarding juveniles by clicking here.
In 2012, Miller v. Alabama ruled that mandatory life sentences with no possibility or parole for children were unconstitutional. In 2016, Montgomery v. Louisiana ruled that this should be applied retroactively.
Unfortunately, the courts in Missouri ruled that this does not affect Bobby's case, because even though he effectively has been sentenced to die in prison, technically, he did not receive a life-sentence. Officially, Bobby received an extremely long-sentence, with the theoretical possibility of parole in extreme old age.
The American Civil Liberties Association (ACLU) subsequently petitioned the US Supreme Court to re-open Bobby's case. Unfortunately, in April 2018, the court rejected his appeal, like so many others, without giving any reason for doing so.
In response, Bobby and his supporters instead began lobbying for a change in the law. In May 2021, an amendment inspired by Bostic's case was added to Senate Bill 26, giving anyone who committed a crime other than murder as a child the possibility of parole after 15 years. Bobby became eligible to apply for parole on August 28, 2021, and has been given a parole date of November 9, 2022. There are still ways you can help Bobby though; please click here for more details.
Read news coverage of Bobby's case by clicking here.
Read legal cases regarding juveniles by clicking here.