ATKINS V. VIRGINIA

Loren Gallimore

BackgroundDaryl Renard Atkins, the plaintiff, went against

the defendant, the state of Virginia, as he was convicted of abduction, robbery, and capital murder.

Atkins’ trial was heard by the court in York County, VA, then by the Virginia Supreme Court, and finally by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Point of Law The 8th Amendment states that “excessive

bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

The question was, was Atkins’ death sentence too harsh for his condition?

Daryl Atkins

Original Jurisdiction

York County, VA was the first to hear this case

After hearing the case, the jury sentenced Atkins to death

Appeals Court

The Virginia Supreme Court took over the Atkins v Virginia case after York County

The jury again sentenced him to death

U.S. Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court finally had to take over this case

According to the 8th Amendment, it is cruel and unusual punishment to execute a person that is mentally impaired.

Decision

Final Decision : 6-3

Majority Decision: Six of the judges agreed that Atkins should not be sentenced to death

Dissenting Opinion: Three judges were against Atkins being exempted of the death penalty

Impact

Although the 8th Amendment can protect people from excessive punishment, it can also have a downfall

In the case of Atkins v Virginia, a person convicted of murder could pretend to be mentally ill to be exempt of the death sentence

Justice John Paul StevensMajority Decision

Justice William H. RehnquistDissenting Opinion

Works Cited<http://murderpedia.org/male.A/images/atkins_daryl/atkins000.jpg>

<http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/US_Supreme_Court_Justice_John_Paul_Stevens_-_1976_official_portrait.jpg>

<http://supremecourtopinions.wustl.edu/application/assets/images/justice_william_h_rehnquist.jpg>