Atkins v. Virginia
By Bianca Kue
Background
 June 20th 2002
 Daryl Renard Atkins
 Convicted of abduction,
armed robbery, and capital
murder
 Forensic psychologist
diagnosed Atkins as mildly
mentally retarded.
 Jury sentenced Atkins to
death

Ruling based on Penry v.
Lynaugh
Why was this case brought to the Supreme Court?
 Question:
 Is the execution of
mentally retarded
persons "cruel and
unusual punishment"
prohibited by the Eighth
Amendment?
 Ruling
 6-3
 Death is not suitable for
a mentally retarded
criminal due to lack of
thinking ability and
judgment.
 Based ruling on how
many states (national
consensus) had laws
against executing
mentally retarded
criminals (32 out of 50)
How did this case change how we understand or interpret the
Constitution/Amendments?
 “we leave to the State[s] the task of developing appropriate ways to
enforce the constitutional restriction upon its execution of sentences.”
 Changed how death penalty was issued based on “cruel and unusual
punishment"
Sources
 http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-
2009/2001/2001_00_8452/
 http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/U
SSC_DN_0000_8452_ZO.html
 http://www.wadsworth.com/criminaljustice_d/tem
plates/student_resources/0534629016_gaines/land
mark/ch11.html