Facebook Twitter Email
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 2002

The Supreme Court on Thursday overturned decades of precedent and ruled that the execution of the mentally retarded was unconstitutional.

In a 6-3 ruling, the Court said the "cruel and unusual punishment" clause of the U.S. Constitution prohibited such death penalty sentences. Turning public opinion was cited as a factor in the decision, which was authored by Justice John Paul Stevens.

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist filed a dissent, accusing the majority of doing little but bowing to public pressure. The opinion was joined by Justices Antonin Scalia, who filed a separate dissent, and Clarence Thomas.

Of the 38 states which allow the death penalty, 18 outlaw it against the mentally retarded.

Get the Story:
Court Bars Execution Of Mentally Retarded (The Washington Post 6/21)
Justices Bar Death Penalty for Retarded Defendants (The New York Times 6/21)
With Little Guidance, States Face Hard Debate on Who Is Retarded (The New York Times 6/21)
Username: indianz.com, Password: indianz.com

Get the Case Atkins v. Virginia, No. 00-8452:
Syllabus | Opinion | Dissent [Rehnquist] | Dissent [Scalia]

Related Stories:
Justices hear death penalty dispute (4/23)
Panel urges death penalty changes (4/16)
Death penalty sentence thrown out (12/19)
Report: More Indians on state death row (12/12)
N.M. executes first in 41 years (11/7)
N.M. judge rejects execution appeal (11/2)
The Death Penalty: Race may matter (9/27)
Supreme Court to consider execution (9/26)
Executions down nationwide (9/6)
Supreme Court urged to keep execution case (8/22)
Texas halts execution at last minute (8/16)
Supreme Court won't stop execution (8/14)
Justice Thomas wanted off death penalty case (8/13)
State wants death penalty case dismissed (8/8)
Supreme Court halts execution (6/22)
Ashcroft left out death penalty facts (6/19)
Texas Gov. vetoes death penalty bill (6/18)
DOJ to study racial bias in death penalty (6/14)
Ashcroft denies racial bias in executions (6/7)
Supreme Court overturns execution (6/5)
Group seeks moratorium on executions (6/4)
Supreme Court halts execution (4/17)
Supremes to take on execution case (3/27)