The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48 (2010). Case Summary of Graham v. Florida: Petitioner Graham committed two robbery-type offenses before he was 18 years old. He was ultimately sentenced to life without parole. Graham challenged his sentence as violative of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. The Florida state courts denied […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Miller v. Alabama, 567 U.S. Supreme Court (2012). Case Summary of Miller v. Alabama: This case involves two companion cases. In both cases, a 14-year-old was convicted of murder and sentenced to a mandatory term of life in prison without parole. Both defendants argued that a sentence of life without parole for a juvenile violates the […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005). Case Summary of Roper v. Simmons: Simmons, age 17, planned and committed a capital murder. He was sentenced to death. His direct appeal and petitions for relief were rejected. When the Supreme Court decided Atkins v. Virginia in 2002 (barring executions for the mentally disabled), Simmons filed a new […]
Read moreThe 8th Amendment to the United States Constitution, a part of the Bill of Rights, prohibits the federal government from imposing excessive fines, excessive bail, and cruel and unusual punishment. This is one of the shortest amendments to the Constitution, but it has a powerful effect, and has sparked a number of debates over the years since its ratification. To […]
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