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Original Situation/Incident

Christopher Simmons at the age of 17 robbed and murdered 46 year old Shirley Cook
The murder took place on September 9, 1993
Location: Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA
Accomplice: Charles Benjamin

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Other important info related to this case

Shirley Cook was bound and gagged using rope and duct tape and then drove her, in her own car, to a railroad bridge spanning a river and then through her into the river.
Simmons planned this in advance
Told his accomplice that they could get away with it, because they were minors.
Simmons also bragged about the crime

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Arguments of original case & results

Simmons confessed to the murder and agreed to do a videotaped reenactment of the crime scene
The jury came to the conclused that Simmons was guilty
The jury consider his age, criminal record (showed nothing), and family testimony. However they still recommended the Death Penalty
Simmons argues that because of his age and troubled background, that the court should raise the sentencing phase, he was rejected
Simmons appealed

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Pathway to the supreme court

Simmons was the one to appeal the man times
The case worked its way up for 9 years
In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, in Atkins v. Virginia, that under the 8th amendment it was unconstitutional for the mentally retarded to receive Capital Punishment.
Simmons took this opportunity and filed a new petition for state post conviction relief
The Missouri Supreme concluded that the national consensus has developed against the execution of juvenile offenders and sentenced Simons to life in prison without parole
The state of Missouri appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court

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What is the question being asked by the court to decide? Date heard by the court

Supreme Court Hearing: October 13th, 2004
The question is whether or not it is constitutional for the state to sentence a juvenile offender to Capital Punishment under the 8th Amendment via the 14th Amendment.

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Important/Main Questions asked by the SCJs

Shouldn’t the punishment be based on by the crime committed?
Why should we consider a new line of 18 years or older when many states have established that 16 years of age was the line?
The mentally retarded still have a different thinking process than ones of juvenile age, why must the two be grouped together?

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Arguments/Points made by both parties

Simmons: Three general difference between juveniles and adult offenders diminished the capability of juveniles

First, the susceptibility of juveniles to immature and irresponsible behavior means their wrongful conduct is not as morally reprehensible as that of an adult;

second juveniles have a greater claim than adults to be forgiven for failing to escape negative influences

third the realities that juveniles still struggled to define their identity means that it is less supportable to conclude that even a heinous crime committed by a juvenile is evidence of an irretrievably depraved character.

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Date and Ruling by the SC

Date: March 1st, 2005

Ruling: Unconstitutional

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Opinion (Reasons) Given By the SC. Summary

In a 5-4 opinion delivered by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the Court ruled that standards of decency have evolved so that executing minors is "cruel and unusual punishment" prohibited by the Eighth Amendment.
The majority cited a consensus against the juvenile death penalty among state legislatures, and its own determination that the death penalty is a disproportionate punishment for minors.
The Court pointed to "overwhelming" international opinion against the juvenile death penalty. Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Justices Antonin Scalia, Sandra Day O'Connor, and Clarence Thomas all dissented.

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What did the ruling establish? Impact on the USA

The new line drawn for Capital Punishment is 18 years and older
The world is changing and the international opinion has a major factor in the our country's own decisions.

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Other similar/related cases (before and after)

Stanford v. Kentucky

Atkins v. Virginia

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Rescoures

Ozey. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2017, from https://www.oyez.org/cases/2004/03-633

FindLaw's United States Supreme Court case and opinions. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2017, from http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-supreme-court/543/551.html

[Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://images.slideplayer.com/13/3940114/slides/slide_15.jpg

[Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xfR4wuO25LQ/UVxa2cuvRLI/AAAAAAAAA8c/az8mDHx-PHY/s1600/Simmons Mug Shot.jpg

[Digital image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://media.thedenverchannel.com/photo/2012/10/30/17_counts_filed_in_Jessica_Ridgeway_case_56450000_319673_ver1.0_320_240.jpg