The case of Adnan Syed, the subject of the podcast “Serial”, has been followed and analysed predominantly from the perspective of its possibly being a wrongful conviction. That Adnan was a minor charged as an adult in draconian Maryland is an issue that is barely pondered. This is borne out when we interview some Serial fans and find out what made an impact on them about Adnan Syed's case.

We give an overview of adolescent psychology, and the inappropriateness of charging teenagers as adults, and we examine the recent history of juvenile justice sentencing reform as a context for the October 13th, 2015 SCOTUS hearing on Montgomery v. Louisiana, the petition to have the 2012 Miller v. Alabama ruling against mandatory Life Without Parole for minors made retroactive.