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The Supreme Court Case Of Roper V. Simmons 543 US 551

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In reviewing the Supreme Court case of Roper v. Simmons 543 U.S. 551 (2005), we review the allegation of the violation of the Eighth Amendment in the trial court’s use of cruel and unusual punishment in its sentencing of Christopher Simmons; who was a juvenile at the time of the crime; to a sentence of death.
In reviewing the facts of the case, we find that Christopher Simmons, then 17 and a junior in high school, along with Charles Benjamin and John Tessmer, planned the commission of a burglary with the intent to commit murder under the perception that they were minors and as such would be able to get away with the crimes. Upon his capture, Simmons, admitted to the crimes and provided law enforcement with the details of the crimes. Because of his age and the nature of the crime, Simmons was considered to be …show more content…

Simmons 543 U.S. 551 (2005), n.d.). Upon review, the court took into consideration the recent finding of the Supreme Court in the case of Atkins v. Virginia 536 U.S. 304 (2002), where they found it cruel and unusual punishment to execute the mentally challenged. As a result, the Court agreed with Simmons, setting aside the death sentence for that of life in prison without the possibility of release stating “although Stanford v. Kentucky, 492 U. S. 361, rejected the proposition that the Constitution bars capital punishment for juvenile offenders younger than 18, a national consensus has developed against the execution of those offenders since Stanford” (Roper v. Simmons 543 U.S. 551 (2005), n.d.). Thus, in overturning the Supreme Court’s ruling the Missouri Supreme Court took the stance that national opinion had changed and based on the passing of numerous laws and the consensus of many Americans, the imposition of the death penalty on minors was

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