Citation: 435 U.S. 223 (1978). One-Sentence Takeaway: A criminal trial by a five-person jury violated the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments, as juries smaller than six diminish the reliability of verdicts and the representativeness of community viewpoints. Summary: A 1978 U.S. Supreme Court opinion in which the Court held that a state could not conduct a criminal trial with […]
Articles Tagged: eighth amendment
Austin v. United States
509 U.S. 602 (1993). A United States Supreme Court opinion in which the Court reviewed for the first time the issue of whether the constitutional limitations of the Excessive Fines Clause of the Eighth Amendment should be applied to in rem civil forfeitures — specifically, drug-related forfeitures of property authorized under 21 U.S.C. §§ 881(a)(4) and (a)(7). The majority, guided by […]
Atkins v. Virginia
536 U.S. 304 (2002). One-Sentence Takeaway: Imposition of death penalty on a mentally retarded defendant violates the cruel & unusual punishment clause of the Eight Amendment. Summary: Atkins and an accomplice abducted the victim, robbed him, forced him to take money out of his ATM, and then shot the victim eight times which caused the victim’s death. […]