Matt Mangino, who authors The Cautionary Instruction here on Fridays, takes a look in this week's editions of the Legal Intelligencer at the U.S. Supreme court ruling on mandatory life sentences for juvenile offenders (subscription required).

"The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole imposed upon a juvenile violates the Eighth Amendment ban against "cruel and unusual punishment."

"The decision, however, does not outlaw life sentences for juveniles. Prosecutors in Pennsylvania and across the country can still pursue life sentences for juvenile killers. The court ruled that state lawmakers cannot force a judge to impose a life sentence on a juvenile."