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List of United States Supreme Court opinions involving capital punishment

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The U.S. Supreme Court has issued numerous rulings on the use of capital punishment (the death penalty). While some rulings applied very narrowly, perhaps to only one individual, other cases have had great influence over wide areas of procedure, eligible crimes, acceptable evidence and method of execution.

Eighth Amendment

Method of execution

Specific crimes

  • Coker v. Georgia, 433 U.S. 584 (1977) – The death penalty is unconstitutional for rape of an adult woman when the victim is not killed.
  • Enmund v. Florida, 458 U.S. 782 (1982) – The death penalty is unconstitutional for a person who is a minor participant in a felony and does not kill, attempt to kill, or intend to kill.
  • Tison v. Arizona, 481 U.S. 137 (1987) – Death penalty may be imposed on a felony-murder defendant who was a major participant in the underlying felony and exhibits extreme indifference to human life.
  • Sumner v. Shuman, 483 U.S. 66 (1987) – Mandatory death penalty for a prison inmate who is convicted of murder while serving a life sentence without possibility of parole is unconstitutional.
  • Kennedy v. Louisiana, 554 U.S. 407 (2008) – The death penalty is unconstitutional for child rape and other non-homicidal crimes against the person.

Related to age

Intellectual disability

Trial procedure (conviction)

Trial procedure (sentencing)

Other

Fifth Amendment

Double jeopardy

Sixth Amendment

Trial procedure (sentencing)

Other

Fourteenth Amendment

Due Process

Exculpatory evidence

Equal Protection

Habeas corpus

Summary reversal and vacatur

International law

Miscellaneous

Chronological listing

See also

References

Lists of United States Supreme Court cases
List of cases by Court
Seal of the United States Supreme Court
Seal of the United States Supreme Court
Complete listList of cases by volume (United States Reports)
By recent term
By subject matter
Other lists
United States Eighth Amendment case law
Cruel and unusual punishment
Incarceration
Death penalty
Corporal punishment
or injuries
Other
Excessive bail and fines
Excessive Bail Clause
Excessive Fines Clause
Capital punishment in the United States
Jurisdictions
Lists of
people
executed
By year
Issues and ethics
Other
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