Thompson v. Oklahoma

Thompson v. Oklahoma

Year:Decided on June,29,1988

Results:5 votes Thompson, 4 votes against, in favor of Thompson

Constitutional Issue:Protection from cruel and unusual punishment under the 8th amendment

Civil Rights/Liberties:Civil Liberties

Significance:It held that the execution of a 15 year old did in fact qualified as cruel and unusual punishment.Also stated that the execution of a person under the age of 16 is unconstitutional.

Quote from Majority Opinion:Justice Stevens wrote, "The authors of the Eighth Amendment drafted a categorical prohibition against the infliction of cruel and unusual punishments, but they made no attempt to define the contours of that category. They delegated that task to future generations of judges who have been guided by the 'evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.'"

Dissent:They argued that this was no ordinary criminal, Thompson was a repeated offender of the law.So he knew perfectly what he was doing even if we was 15 years old.

6 Word Summary: under age 15, can't be sentenced death