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The Death Penalty
These eight cases set the precendent for how and when the death penalty can be used in United States. -
Furman v. Georgia
The death penalty was deemed unconstitutional since in this situation it was considered cruel and unusual punishment. Furman burglarized a home and killed a resident of the home while fleeing. The Supreme Court didn't receive much more information about the case than this and therefore couldn't justly sentence Furman to the death penalty -
Gregg v. Georgia
Gregg was convicted of armed robbery and a murder. He was sentenced to the death penalty by the Supreme Court. The reason being that in Furman v. Georgia the Supreme Court wasn't given adequate information such as nature and circumstances of the crime or the criminal records. In this case they were given this information and concluded it was just to sentence Gregg to the death penalty -
Coker v. Georgia
Coker broke away from jail while serving time for murder, rape, assualt and kidnapping. He then broke into a woman's house kidnapped her and raped her. He released the woman without further harm and was eventually caught. The Supreme Court reversed the Georgia courts ruling of the death penalty because the felt that death is an excessive penalty for rape. -
Atkins v Virginia
Atkins committed murder and was convicted of the death penalty by the Supreme Court of Virginia. However, the Supreme Court because Atkins was deemed "mildly mentally retarded" based on his IQ and school records reversed the ruling since after Penry Lynaugh in 1989 punishemnet toward the mentally handicap had become less strict. -
Ring v. Arizona
Ring was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison by an Arizona jury. His sentence was later raised to the death penalty. The U.S. Supreme Court reversed the increased sentence because of the Apprendi v. New Jersey precedent. The increase punishment needed to be submitted to a jury or admitted by the defendant. -
Roper v. Simmons
Simmons commited a capital murder at the age of 17. He was sentenced to the death penalty once he turned 18. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Simmons since the 8th and 14th amendments forbid the death penalty for offenders that were minors when they committed the crime. -
Baze v. Rees
Baze was convicted of murder and sentenced to the death penalty by the Kentucky state court. He protested that lethal injection violated the 8th amendment. The Supreme Court however deemed that lethal injection was constitutional because it didn't cause pain or torture. -
Kennedy v. Louisiana
Kennedy was sentenced to the death penalty by the Lousiana state court for the rape of his 8 year old step-daughter. The Supreme Court held the Coker v. Georgia precendent and deemed the use in the death penalty in this situation unconstitutional because he didn't kill his step-daughter.