Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/11pdf/10-9646.pdf
Page Number: 46.0

10 

MILLER v. ALABAMA 

ROBERTS, C. J., dissenting 

Amendment  that  bars  only  “unusual”  punishments  re-
quires  the  abolition  of  this  uniformly  established  practice
would be startling indeed. 

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It is a great tragedy when a juvenile commits murder—
most of all for the innocent victims.  But also for the mur-
derer,  whose  life  has  gone  so  wrong  so  early.    And  for 
society as well, which has lost one or more of its members 
to  deliberate  violence,  and  must  harshly  punish  another. 
In  recent  years,  our  society  has  moved  toward  requiring
that the murderer, his age notwithstanding, be imprisoned 
for the remainder of his life.  Members of this Court may 
disagree  with  that  choice.  Perhaps  science  and  policy 
suggest  society  should  show  greater  mercy  to  young  kill-
ers, giving them a greater chance to reform themselves at 
the risk that they will kill again.  See ante, at 8–11.  But 
that  is  not  our  decision  to  make.    Neither  the  text  of  the 
Constitution nor our precedent prohibits legislatures from 
requiring  that  juvenile  murderers  be  sentenced  to  life
without parole.  I respectfully dissent.