POLI 203 Court Cases

Question 1

Furman v. Georgia

Answer 1

the death penalty, as it was then being applied, constituted cruel and unusual punishment and violated the Eighth Amendment

Question 2

Gregg v. Georgia

Answer 2

the penalty is not necessarily unconstitutional according the Eighth Amendment

Question 3

Atkins v. Virginia

Answer 3

executing individuals with intellectual disabilities is a cruel and unusual punishment, violating the Eighth Amendment

Question 4

Ford v. Wainwright

Answer 4

executing a mentally incompetent person violates the Eighth Amendment

Question 5

Batson v. Kentucky

Answer 5

a prosecutor cannot use peremptory challenges during jury selection to exclude potential jurors solely based on their race

Question 6

Herrera v. Collins

Answer 6

claim of actual innocence based solely on newly discovered evidence does not, in itself, warrant federal habeas corpus relief (a legal procedure that challenges the legality of a person’s imprisonment)

Question 7

Lackey v. Texas

Answer 7

case challenging the constitutionality of long delays in the period between a death sentence and an eventual execution

Question 8

State (NC) v. Johnson

Answer 8

no plea-bargains to avoid death

Question 9

McClesky v. Kemp

Answer 9

the Supreme Court ignored statistical evidence demonstrating disproportionate death sentencing based on the race of the offender and the victim