[Answer] In which case did the Supreme Court rule that it violates the Constitution to execute a mentally retarded criminal defendant?a. Penry v. Lynaugh. (1989)b. Coker v. Georgia. (1977)c. Roper v. Simmons. (2005)d. Atkins v. Virginia. (2002)

Answer: d. Atkins v. Virginia. (2002)

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In which case did the Supreme Court rule that it violates the Constitution to execute a mentally retarded criminal defendant?a. Penry v. Lynaugh. (1989)b. Coker v. Georgia. (1977)c. Roper v. Simmons. (2005)d. Atkins v. Virginia. (2002) Roper v. Simmons 543 U.S. 551 (2005) was a landmark decision in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that it is unconstitutional to impose capital punishment for crimes committed while under the age of 18. The 5–4 decision overruled Stanford v. Kentucky in which the court had upheld execution of offenders at or above age 16 and overturned statutes in 25 states. Roper v. Simmons 543 U.S. 551 (2005) was a landmark decision in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that it is unconstitutional to impose capital punishment for crimes committed while under the age of 18. The 5–4 decision overruled Stanford v. Kentucky in which the court had upheld execution of offenders at or above age 16 and overturned statutes in 25 states. In 1993 in the state of Missouri 17-year-old Christopher Simmons along with two younger friends Charles Benjamin and John Tessmer concocted a plan to murder Shirley Nite Crook. The plan was to commit burglary and murder by breaking and entering tying up a victim. The three met in the middle of the night; however Tessmer dropped out of the plot. Simmons and Benjamin broke into Mrs. Nite … In 1993 in the state of Missouri 17-year-old Christopher Simmons along with two younger friends Charles Benjamin and John Tessmer concocted a plan to murder Shirley Nite Crook. The plan was to commit burglary and murder by breaking and entering tying up a victim. The three met in the middle of the night; however Tessmer dropped out of the plot. Simmons and Benjamin broke into Mrs. Nite Crook's home bound her hands and covered her eyes. They drove her to a state park and threw her off a bridge. Later she was found dead by drowning. Once the case was brought to trial the evidence was overwhelming. Simmons had confessed to the murder performed a videotaped reenactment at the crime scene and there was testimony from Tessmer against him that showed premeditation (Simmons discussed the plot in advance and later bragged about the crime). The jury returned a guilty verdict. Even considering mitigating factors (no criminal history and his age) the jury recommended a death sentence which the trial court imposed. Simmons moved for the trial court to set aside the conviction and sentence citing in part ineffective assistance of counsel. His age and thus impulsiveness along with a troubled background were brought up as issues that Simmons claimed should have been raised at the sentencing phase. The trial court rejected the motion and Simmons appealed. The case worked its way up the court system with the courts continuing to uphold the death sentence. However in light of a 2002 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Atkins...

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