Supreme Court Case Study (Roper V. Simmons)
Abstract The following is a case summary on United States Supreme Court case 03-633 Roper v. Simmons. Even though many disagree with the death penalty all together, even more disagree with the death penalty for juveniles. It is my opinion that anyone over the age of 16 who can premeditate and act upon an event so gruesome that includes either or both rape and murder should be subject to the death penalty. Juvenile offenses continue to rise in number and severity and many of those are because some juveniles know they will not be tried as adults or face harsh punishment due to their age and the restrictions the law puts on offenses by juveniles.
SUPREME COURT CASE SUMMARY ON ROPER v. simmons 03-633
Case Overview
Roper v. Simmons
Basics and Facts
The Roper v. Simmons case, docket number 03-633 heard by the United States Supreme Court on October 13, 2004, concerns the matter of the juvenile death penalty as it relates to cases in the United States of America and to the protections provided by the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
The case was brought first to the Missouri State Supreme Court by Christopher Simmons in 2002 after numerous failed attempts at the state and federal level to appeal his death sentence. Simmons, who at the age of 17, did so willingly and premeditated commit an act of murder after breaking and entering into an elderly woman 's home. Simmons and his accomplice tied up, gagged, and duct taped the woman, drove her to a train track overpass, then threw her over the side into the river below. All the while, the woman remained alive and conscious until she met her untimely death in the river below. Not only was the murder premeditated, Simmons also bragged about the murder weeks later when the woman 's body was found. Witnesses claim that Simmons bragged that he could get away with the murder because he was a minor. After his arrest, conviction and sentencing, Simmons argued that his death sentence violated
SUPREME COURT CASE SUMMARY ON ROPER v. simmons 03-633
Case Overview
Roper v. Simmons
Basics and Facts
The Roper v. Simmons case, docket number 03-633 heard by the United States Supreme Court on October 13, 2004, concerns the matter of the juvenile death penalty as it relates to cases in the United States of America and to the protections provided by the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution.
The case was brought first to the Missouri State Supreme Court by Christopher Simmons in 2002 after numerous failed attempts at the state and federal level to appeal his death sentence. Simmons, who at the age of 17, did so willingly and premeditated commit an act of murder after breaking and entering into an elderly woman 's home. Simmons and his accomplice tied up, gagged, and duct taped the woman, drove her to a train track overpass, then threw her over the side into the river below. All the while, the woman remained alive and conscious until she met her untimely death in the river below. Not only was the murder premeditated, Simmons also bragged about the murder weeks later when the woman 's body was found. Witnesses claim that Simmons bragged that he could get away with the murder because he was a minor. After his arrest, conviction and sentencing, Simmons argued that his death sentence violated
References: Davenport, A. U. (2009). Basic Criminal Law: The Constitution, Procedures, and crimes. Columbus: Pearson prentice hall. Center for Military Readiness. (2009, November 12). Retrieved November 12, 2009, from: http://www.cmrlink.org/ Oyez Project: Roper v. Simmons , 543 U.S. 551 (2005). (2009, November 12). Retrieved November 12, 2009, from: http://oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2004/2004_03_633 Roskin, M, Cord, R, Medeiros, J, & Jones, W (2007). Political Science: An Introduction (10th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.