SCOTUS Cases

Question 1

Furman v. Georgia (1972)

Answer 1

Is the imposition of the death sentence prohibited under the 8th and 14th amendments as cruel and unusual punishment? Yes; began a 4-year moratorium.

Question 2

Gregg v. Georgia (1976)

Answer 2

Is the imposition of the death sentence prohibited under the 8th and 14th amendments as cruel and unusual punishment? No; ended the moratorium once Georgia adopted a new system for capital punishment.

Question 3

Enmund v. Florida (1982)

Answer 3

Is the DP a valid penalty under the 8th and 14th amendments for someone who did not take a life, attempt to take a life, or intend to take a life? No; rationale was the proportionality analysis and evolving standards of decency test.

Question 4

Ford v. Wainwright (1986)

Answer 4

Is executing an individual who is insane a violation of the 8th amendment? Yes

Question 5

Penry v. Lynaugh (1989)

Answer 5

Was Penry sentenced to death in violation of the 8th amendment because the jury was not instructed that it could consider and give effect to his mitigating evidence in imposing its sentence? Yes.
Would it be cruel and unusual punishment to execute a MR person like Penry with the reasoning capacity of a 7-year-old? No

Question 6

Atkins v. Virginia (2002)

Answer 6

Is it a violation of the 8th amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment to execute a MR person? Yes

Question 7

Roper v. Simmons (2005)

Answer 7

Does a death sentence for people under the age of 18 at the time of the crime constitute cruel and unusual punishment within the meaning of the 8th amendment? Yes; 18 is the minimum

Question 8

Hall v. Florida (2014)

Answer 8

Does the Florida scheme for identifying MR defendants in capital punishment cases violate the standards established in Atkins v. Virginia? Yes

Question 9

Witherspoon v. Illinois (1968)

Answer 9

A jury composed after the dismissal of all who oppose the death penalty was biased in favor of the death sentence; such a jury is a violation of the 6th and 14th amendments

Question 10

Adams v. Texas (1980)

Answer 10

You can’t be made to swear an oath that you’ll do a mandatory DP sentence because it would exclude those who oppose it and that violates Witherspoon

Question 11

Wainwright v. Witt (1985)

Answer 11

A juror cannot be required to explain their bias because it is impossible to ask enough questions to make it unmistakably clear

Question 12

Lockhart v. McCree (1986)

Answer 12

Excluding people who are unwilling to impose the DP is not a violation because the state has a legit interest to impanel jurors who can properly and impartially apply the law to facts of the case at both the guilt and sentencing phases

Question 13

Booth v. Maryland (1987)

Answer 13

Victim impact statements can be given after the sentence is determined

Question 14

South Carolina v. Gathers (1989)

Answer 14

A victim impact statement is only admissible during the sentencing phase if it directly relates to the circumstances of the crime

Question 15

Payne v. Tennessee (1991)

Answer 15

The 8th amendment does not prohibit a capital sentencing jury from considering the impact that victim’s death had upon surviving family members

Question 16

Powell v. Alabama (1932)

Answer 16

Gave the right to be provided an attorney to indigent defendants facing the death penalty

Question 17

Gideon v. Wainwright (1963)

Answer 17

Expanded on Powell to provide counsel for indigent defendants

Question 18

Woodson v. North Carolina (1976)

Answer 18

SCOTUS held that the mandatory imposition of the DP is unconstitutional

Question 19

Lockett v. Ohio (1978)

Answer 19

Having a limit on the number of applicable mitigating circumstances violates the 8th and 14th amendments

Question 20

Apprendi v. New Jersey (2000)

Answer 20

Any fact that can increase the penalty of a crime must be submitted to a jury and proven beyond a resonable doubt

Question 21

Ring v. Arizona (2002)

Answer 21

If there is a potential increase in the maximum punishment, the defendants are entitled to jury determination of contributions

Question 22

Evans v. Secretary of Florida’s Corrections (2012)

Answer 22

Reduces the disrection of judges in FL

Question 23

Alleyne v. United States (2013)

Answer 23

A defendant cannot be found guilty of a crime not included in the indictment. A judge cannot enhance the defendant’s sentence about the statutory maximum, nor can they raise the ceiling either