The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit has delivered a significant victory for the state of Florida, upholding the constitutionality of its parole system for inmates serving life sentences with parole eligibility for crimes committed as juveniles.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the decision today, praising the work of the Office of the Solicitor General in defending the Florida Commission on Offender Review (FCOR).
The ruling affirms a lower court’s decision, rejecting a class-action lawsuit brought by inmates referred to as “juvenile lifers.”
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These individuals, nearly all convicted of homicide offenses committed while under the age of 18, argued that Florida’s parole system violated the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment by failing to provide a “meaningful opportunity for release.” They also raised concerns under the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause.
“This ruling affirms what we’ve said all along—Florida’s parole system is constitutional and fair,” stated Attorney General James Uthmeier. “These were serious, violent crimes with devastating consequences, and our laws must continue to reflect the gravity of those acts. Thanks to the work of Acting Solicitor General Jeffrey DeSousa and Senior Deputy Solicitor General Christopher Baum, we’ve once again defended the rule of law, and protected the rights of victims and their families.”
In an opinion authored by Judge Kevin C. Newsom, the Eleventh Circuit held that Florida’s parole process does not, on a class-wide basis, violate constitutional standards. While saying that the system might be perceived as restrictive in granting release – noting it may be “a little stingy” – the court found no basis to declare it unconstitutional under either the Eighth or Fourteenth Amendments.
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The decision reinforces the state’s position that its parole system adequately balances the possibility of rehabilitation and release with the critical needs of public safety and accountability for serious offenses. The U.S. District Court had previously granted summary judgment in favor of the FCOR, a decision now cemented by the appellate court’s affirmation.
This ruling concludes a major legal challenge and confirms the operational validity of Florida’s existing parole framework for this specific class of offenders.
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