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Limon v. Kansas - Case Profile
3/8/2005

Matt Limon

In February of 2000, Limon and another male teenager were both students at the same residential school for developmentally disabled youth in Miami County, Kansas. A week after Limon's 18th birthday, he performed consensual oral sex on the other teenager, who was nearly 15 years old - three years, one month and a few days younger. Because Kansas's so-called "Romeo and Juliet" law gives much lighter sentences to heterosexual teenagers who have sex with younger teens but specifically excludes gay teenagers, Limon was sentenced to 17 years in prison. A heterosexual teenager with the same record would serve no longer than 15 months for the same offense.

Status: Victory! A unanimous Kansas Supreme Court overturns conviction.

News
> ACLU Applauds Unanimous Kansas Supreme Court Decision Reversing Conviction of Gay Teen Unfairly Punished under "Romeo and Juliet" Law (10/21/2005)
> Kansas Supreme Court Hears Appeal of Gay Teen Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison (8/31/2004)
> ACLU Asks Kansas Supreme Court to Drop 17-Year Prison Sentence of Gay Teenager (6/24/2004)
> Kansas Supreme Court to Hear ACLU Appeal of 17-Year Prison Sentence for Gay Teenager (5/27/2004)
> ACLU Asks Kansas Supreme Court to Reconsider 17-Year Prison Sentence of Bisexual Teenager (3/1/2004)
> Defying U.S. Supreme Court, Kansas Court Upholds 17-Year Prison Sentence of Bisexual Teenager (1/30/2004)
> ACLU Appears Before Kansas Appeals Court on Behalf of Youth Serving 15 Additional Years in Prison Because He is Gay (12/2/2003)
> ACLU Fires Back at Kansas Attorney General in Latest Round over 17-Year Prison Sentence of Bisexual Teenager (10/2/2003)
> ACLU Asks Kansas Court to Overturn 17-Year Prison Sentence of Bisexual Teenager (8/11/2003)
> Supreme Court Intervenes on Behalf of Kansas Youth Serving 17-Year Prison Sentence Because He's Gay (6/27/2003)
> ACLU Asks Supreme Court to Strike Down Anti-Gay Kansas Law (10/10/2002)
> 'Romeo & Juliet Law' Gives Gay Teen 16 Years More In Prison than Heterosexual Would Serve (9/28/2001)


Legal Documents
> Limon v. Kansas - State's Supplemental Brief on Review (4/11/2006)
> Limon v. Kansas - Decision (10/21/2005)
> Limon v. Kansas - ACLU's Reply to Kansas Legisators' Brief (3/21/2005)
> Limon v. Kansas - ACLU's Supplemental Response Brief on Review (3/21/2005)
> Limon v. Kansas - National Association of Social Workers Amicus Brief (3/21/2005)
> Limon v. Kansas - Public Health Organizations Amicus Brief (3/21/2005)
> Limon v. Kansas - State's Reply Brief on Rehearing (3/21/2005)
> Limon v. Kansas - ACLU's Reply Brief on Rehearing (10/3/2003)
> Limon v. Kansas - ACLU's Opening Brief on Rehearing (9/11/2003)
> Limon v. Kansas - ACLU's Petition For Writ Of Certiorari (10/10/2002)


Additional Resources
> Limon v. Kansas - Case Background (9/8/2005)

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