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Atkins v. Virginia

Merits

Cece Trask

Sergio Janeiro

  • Daryl Atkins and William Jones, 18, abducted Eric Nesbit and forced him to withdraw $200 from a nearby ATM.
  • They then drove him to an isolated area and shot him 8 times, killing him.

Conclusion

Introduction

This case is about the death penalty and what the Supreme Court deems cruel and unusual punishment. Who is allowed to be put to death?

  • The "relationship between mental retardation and the penological purposes served by the death penalty" justifies a conclusion that executing the mentally retarded is cruel and unusual punishment.
  • Unless it can be shown that executing the mentally retarded promotes the goals of retribution and deterrence, doing so is nothing more than "purposeless and needless imposition of pain and suffering", making the death penalty cruel and unusual in those cases.

How did the Supreme Court Rule?

Original Ruling

  • They overruled his original sentencing and he was instead given life in prison.

Jones negotiated a deal of life in prison, Atkins was sentenced to death

  • Atkins' school records revealed that he was mentally retarded, but his sentencing remained.

Civil Liberty

  • Eight Amendment- no cruel and unusual punishment

- The "relationship between mental retardation and the penological purposes served by the death penalty" is the explanation given by the court to classify execution of the mentally retarded as cruel and unusual punishment.

- Although they can know the difference between right and wrong, these deficiencies mean they have a lesser ability to learn from experience, engage in logical reasoning, and understand the reactions of others. This means that inflicting the death penalty on one mentally retarded individual is less likely to deter other mentally retarded individuals from committing crimes.

Atkins v. Virginia

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