Analysis and Application

Applications of Mens Rea and Juvenile Culpability

Overview of Roper v . Simmons (2005

According to the Oyez Project Supreme Courts media , Christopher Simmons was sentenced to death in 1993 at 17 years old . In 2002 , the Missouri Supreme Court stayed his execution while the U .S . Supreme Court decided the Atkins v . Virginia case which dealt with the execution of the mentally retarded . After the U .S . Supreme Court ruled that executing the mentally ill violated the Eighth and 14th Amendment prohibitions on cruel and unusual punishment because a majority of Americans

found it cruel and unusual , the Missouri Supreme Court reconsidered Simmons sentencing and upheld the Supreme court 's decision

Overview of Atkins v . Virginia (2002

In Atkins v . Virginia Renard Atkins was convicted of abduction , armed robbery , and capital murder (The Oyez Project , 2010 . In his penalty trial , the defense relied on one forensic psychologist . He testified that Atkins was mildly mentally retarded . The jury however sentenced Atkins to death . The Virginia Supreme Court ordered a second sentencing hearing since a misleading verdict form had been used by the trial court . During resentencing the forensic psychologist testified again During the hearing the State rebutted Atkins ' intelligence . The jury gave a death verdict again for Arkins . In rejecting Atkins ' argument that because of being mentally retarded he could not be sentenced to death , the Virginia Supreme Court relied on Penry v . Lynaugh

Overview of Stanford v Kentucky (1989

In Stanford v Kentucky , Stanford at 17 years old was convicted...