Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Pittman Case           The U.S. Supreme Court refused today to hear the case of Christopher Pittman v. South Carolina.  South Carolina tried Pittman as an adult for crimes he committed when he was 12.  Once he was certified to stand trial as an adult, the minimum sentence he could receive was 30 years without parole, which the trial judge imposed.  Pittman's lawyers argued that a minimum, mandatory sentence of 30 years for a 12 year-old violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment, and emphasized that no child this young had suffered punishment this severe in the entire country.            "We are extremely saddened that the Court declined to hear this important case," said Lanny Vickery, one of Pittman's lawyers who represented him before the Supreme Court.  "First and foremost, it is a devastating blow for Chris.  But it also reveals a significant problem in the overall operation of juvenile justice in this country when the justice system gives a 12 year-old no chance to show that he has been rehabilitated."  Pittman's lawyers remain hopeful that the Court will address the effect of a child's age on constitutionally-permissible criminal sentences in future cases. Click here to view Houston Chronicle story Click here to view to CNN Coverage Click here to view New York Times story

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2/1/08 - FDA issues advisory about Chantix 1/30/08 - Chief Justices oppose preemption 12/12/07 - Senator Clinton calls for investigation in Halliburton rape case. 10/1/07 - Pittman case headed to U.S. Supreme Court 8/20/07 - Van Dyke family seeks certification to Wyoming Supreme Court 6/12/07 - South Carolina Supreme Court affirms Pittman conviction 3/21/07 - JusticeSeekers sue BP over damages to homes 2/1/07 - Justiceseekers to clear name of French Anne Young 11/30/07 - Paul Waldner begins term as President-elect of TTLA

"JusticeSeekers win preemption, Daubert and learned intermediary arguments." "See ABC News coverage of Taylor Dismuke's story" -video "Paul Waldner discusses Paxil Birth Defect Cases" -video "Dismuke v. GlaxoSmithKline" -pdf 81kb "FDA Strengthens warnings regarding Paxil and Birth Defects" "Father Larry Lee at consecration of JusticeSeekers court room" "Dr. Joseph Glenmullen and Dr. David Healy discuss SSRI's"

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