Convicted for a crime committed at about a thousand , Sullivan appeals to The Supreme Court . He is serving life without parole for burglary and the rape of a 72-year-old woman . Defense attorneys say punishment for Joe Sullivan , now 33 , was too harsh . A study by the Equal Justice Institute found eight prisoners serving life terms for crimes committed at 13 , all in the United States . The Supreme Court is expected to decide 33 if it will hear the case .
Convicted for a crime committed at about a thousand , Sullivan appeals to The Supreme Court . He is serving life without parole for burglary and the rape of a 72-year-old woman . Defense attorneys say punishment for Joe Sullivan , now 33 , was too harsh . The Supreme Court is expected to decide 33 if it will hear the case .