Death Penalty

Question 1

Atkins v. Virginia (2002)

Answer 1

SCOTUS prohibited execution of defendant with MR

Question 2

Barefoot v. Estelle (1983)

Answer 2

SCOTUS ruled that mental health professional can testify to future dangerousness in capital cases (despite APA amicus brief)

Question 3

Estelle v. Smith (1981)

Answer 3

Federal Appeals court ruled that failure to notify defense of the competency (and dangerousness) evaluation violated rights

Psychiatrist did competency evaluation and found him CST, but filed no report and Smith’s attorneys were not informed that he had been evaluated; Smith was found guilty and Dr. Grigson was called to testify at the sentencing hearing; he testified that Smith was a sociopath, could not be treated, and would commit crimes if freed, he was sentenced to death

Question 4

Ford v. Wainwright (1986)

Answer 4

Unconstitutional to execute “the insane”

death row inmates must be competent for execution (rational understanding that execution is death, why he is being put to death)

Question 5

Furman v. Georgia (1972)

Answer 5

Abolished death sentences in which unguided discretion provided to judges/juries which led to disproportionate sentencing of Black defendants

led to practical moratorium in 40 states with death penalty (result: 600 inmates on death row commuted sentences)

Question 6

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

Answer 6

Ruled death penalty is constitutional due to aggravating factors, ended moratorium

Question 7

Hall v. FL (2014)

Answer 7

Capital offender with IQ of 71; SCOTUS ruled that states need to consider 3 factors in considering disorder: (1) IQ, (2) functional impairment, and (3) both prior to age 18; rigid rules were unconstitutional

coined “intellectual disability”

Question 8

Kansas v. Cheever (2013)

Answer 8

Ruling that prosecution can access a court-appointed expert

Question 9

Lawlor v. Zook (4th Cir. 2018)

Answer 9

Exclusion of testimony regarding dangerousness (i.e., low risk of violence if incarcerated) violated SCOTUS precedent about mitigating evidence, cannot be excluded from sentencer’s consideration - substantial and injurious effect

Question 10

Lockett v. Ohio (1978)

Answer 10

An Ohio law required that defs found guilty of aggravated murder ve given death penalty; SCOTUS ruled that sentencers consider all mitigating factors, except in the rarest cases, in capital cases

Question 11

Madison v. Alabama (2019)

Answer 11

memory problems can preclude the death penalty under the 8th Amendment, but only if the memory problems affected the individual’s rational understanding

Question 12

Moore v. Texas (2017)

Answer 12

SCOTUS ruled that TX was using outdated medical practices in assessing intellectual disability and reiterated that updated clinical practices must be used

Question 13

Panetti v. Quarterman (2007)

Answer 13

protected the rights of inmates sentenced to death to appear in court

Question 14

Payne v. Tennessee (1991)

Answer 14

SCOTUS allowed victim impact statements prior to capital sentencing

Question 15

Roper v. Simmons (2005)

Answer 15

SCOTUS prohibited death penalty for juvenile offenders

Question 16

Singleton v. Norris (8th Cir. 2003)

Answer 16

US Court of Appeals permitted AR to administer antipsychotic medication to render an inmate competent for execution

Question 17

Strickland v Washington (1984)

Answer 17

SCOTUS held that to set aside a death sentence, counsel’s performance must be deficient (reasonableness), and deficient performance must have prejudiced the defense so as to deprive a fair trial

Question 18

State v. Perry (1992)

Answer 18

LA SC ruled that an inmate with Schizophrenia could not be forced to take medication to make him competent to be executed

Question 19

Woodson v. North Carolina (1976)

Answer 19

post-Furman, states were mandating death penalty for certain crimes; SCOTUS ruled it was unconstitutional