Kent v. United States

Kent v. United States (1966) was a landmark Supreme Court case concerning the rights of juveniles in the legal system. The Court ruled that juveniles must be afforded certain due process protections before being transferred to adult court. In this case, a 16-year-old was accused of robbery and rape, and the judge moved the case to adult court without a hearing. The Supreme Court found this unconstitutional, emphasizing that young individuals deserve fair treatment and the opportunity to defend themselves before such critical decisions are made about their legal status. This case significantly shaped juvenile justice rights in the U.S.