Tag: evolving standards of decency

Thompson v. Oklahoma

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Following is the case brief for Thompson v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. 815 (1988) Case Summary of Thompson v. Oklahoma: Petitioner Thompson was age 15 when he participated in a murder. He was tried as an adult and eventually sentenced to death. The State appeals court affirmed the conviction and sentence. The U.S. Supreme Court, however, vacated the sentence and remanded […]

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Roper v. Simmons

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Following 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 […]

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