Reference no: EM133809334

Question

Did the Supreme Court strictly adhere to the concept of stare decisis in this case? Use concepts from chapter 1 and explain your discussion statements. Roper v. Simmons was a landmark Supreme Court case decided in 2005. The case involved Christopher Simmons, who was sentenced to death for a murder he committed at age 17. The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled that it was unconstitutional to impose capital punishment for crimes committed while under the age of 18.

1. Facts of the Case: In 1993, Christopher Simmons, a 17-year-old high school student, planned and committed a capital murder. He assured his friends they could get away with it because they were minors. The victim was Shirley Crook, who was brutally killed by Simmons and his accomplice.

2. Lower Courts: Simmons was tried and convicted of first-degree murder in a Missouri court. The jury recommended the death penalty, which the court imposed.

3. Lower Court Ruling: The Missouri Supreme Court, however, set aside Simmons' death sentence in light of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Atkins v. Virginia (2002), which held that executions of mentally disabled individuals were 'cruel and unusual punishments' prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. The Missouri Supreme Court concluded that a national consensus had developed against the execution of juvenile offenders due to their lack of maturity and responsibility compared to adults.

4. Supreme Court Issue: The issue before the Supreme Court was whether the execution