Death Penalty for Juveniles Convicted of Murder Held to Be Unconstitutional Because a National Consensus Opposes Its Use and Juvenile Offenders Are Less Culpable Than Adults

Jan 8

Roper v. Simmons, 125 S. Ct. 1183 (2005)

The Supreme Court ruled in a 5-to-4 decision that it is unconstitutional to impose the death penalty on convicted murderers who were younger than 18 at the time of the crime. The Court concluded that such executions violate the Eighth Amendment's prohibition of "cruel and unusual punishments."...

Found in DMHL Volume 24 Issue 2

Katherine Faris

Death Penalty for Juveniles Convicted of Murder Held to Be Unconstitutional Because a National Consensus Opposes Its Use and Juvenile Offenders Are Less Culpable Than Adults

Roper v. Simmons, 125 S. Ct. 1183 (2005)

Found in DMHL Volume 24 Issue 2

Child Sexual Abuse Victims Can Be Required to Undergo a Mental Health Evaluation to Determine Credibility of the Report of Abuse; Ruling Not Disturbed

Defendant Who Received Direct Command from God to Murder Is Unsuccessful in Raising Deific Decree Defense Because the Command Did Not Overcome His Cognitive Ability to Tell Right from Wrong