Eddings v. Oklahoma
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Summary

1982 | Federal Juristiction

Eddings v. Oklahoma

Keywords Eighth Amendment; mitigating factors; death penalty; capital crime; juvenile sentencing

Abstract

Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established that courts must consider all mitigating factors in determining whether to impose the death penalty.   In this case, a 16-year-old named Eddings was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. During his sentencing hearing, Eddings presented evidence of a troubled childhood, including abuse and emotional disturbance. However, the trial judge refused to consider this evidence as mitigating factors.   The Supreme Court reversed the death sentence, ruling that the trial judge had erred in refusing to consider all of the mitigating evidence presented. The Court emphasized that the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution requires that the death penalty be imposed fairly and with reasonable consistency, and that this requires consideration of all relevant factors about the defendant's character and the crime.  

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Abstract

Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established that courts must consider all mitigating factors in determining whether to impose the death penalty.   In this case, a 16-year-old named Eddings was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. During his sentencing hearing, Eddings presented evidence of a troubled childhood, including abuse and emotional disturbance. However, the trial judge refused to consider this evidence as mitigating factors.   The Supreme Court reversed the death sentence, ruling that the trial judge had erred in refusing to consider all of the mitigating evidence presented. The Court emphasized that the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution requires that the death penalty be imposed fairly and with reasonable consistency, and that this requires consideration of all relevant factors about the defendant's character and the crime.  

Summary

Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982) marked a significant development in the application of the Eighth Amendment to capital punishment jurisprudence. The case established the principle that courts must consider all mitigating factors in determining whether to impose the death penalty.

In Eddings, a 16-year-old defendant was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. During the sentencing phase, he presented evidence of a troubled childhood, including abuse and emotional disturbance. However, the trial court refused to consider this evidence as mitigating factors.

The Supreme Court reversed the death sentence, holding that the trial court's refusal to consider the mitigating evidence violated the Eighth Amendment. The Court reasoned that the Eighth Amendment's requirement of a fair and consistent application of the death penalty necessitates the consideration of all relevant factors regarding the defendant's character and the crime.

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Abstract

Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established that courts must consider all mitigating factors in determining whether to impose the death penalty.   In this case, a 16-year-old named Eddings was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. During his sentencing hearing, Eddings presented evidence of a troubled childhood, including abuse and emotional disturbance. However, the trial judge refused to consider this evidence as mitigating factors.   The Supreme Court reversed the death sentence, ruling that the trial judge had erred in refusing to consider all of the mitigating evidence presented. The Court emphasized that the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution requires that the death penalty be imposed fairly and with reasonable consistency, and that this requires consideration of all relevant factors about the defendant's character and the crime.  

Summary

Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982)

Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982) was a landmark case in which the Supreme Court determined that courts must consider all mitigating factors in determining whether to impose the death penalty.

In the case, a 16-year-old named Eddings was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Eddings presented evidence of a troubled childhood, including abuse and emotional disturbance, during his sentencing hearing. The trial judge refused to consider this evidence as mitigating factors, but the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence.

The Court ruled that the trial judge erred in refusing to consider all mitigating evidence presented. The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, the Court emphasized, requires the death penalty to be imposed fairly and with reasonable consistency. This requires consideration of all relevant factors about the defendant's character and the crime.

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Abstract

Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established that courts must consider all mitigating factors in determining whether to impose the death penalty.   In this case, a 16-year-old named Eddings was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. During his sentencing hearing, Eddings presented evidence of a troubled childhood, including abuse and emotional disturbance. However, the trial judge refused to consider this evidence as mitigating factors.   The Supreme Court reversed the death sentence, ruling that the trial judge had erred in refusing to consider all of the mitigating evidence presented. The Court emphasized that the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution requires that the death penalty be imposed fairly and with reasonable consistency, and that this requires consideration of all relevant factors about the defendant's character and the crime.  

Summary

Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982)

The Supreme Court case Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982) is important because it established a rule about how judges should decide whether someone should be sentenced to death.

The case involved a 16-year-old named Eddings who was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death. Eddings’ lawyers argued that he had a difficult childhood with abuse and emotional problems, which should be considered when deciding his sentence. However, the judge refused to take this information into account.

The Supreme Court decided that the judge had made a mistake. They said that the judge must consider all the evidence about a person’s background and the crime itself when deciding if the death penalty is appropriate. This decision is based on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, which says that punishments must be fair and consistent.

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Abstract

Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established that courts must consider all mitigating factors in determining whether to impose the death penalty.   In this case, a 16-year-old named Eddings was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. During his sentencing hearing, Eddings presented evidence of a troubled childhood, including abuse and emotional disturbance. However, the trial judge refused to consider this evidence as mitigating factors.   The Supreme Court reversed the death sentence, ruling that the trial judge had erred in refusing to consider all of the mitigating evidence presented. The Court emphasized that the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution requires that the death penalty be imposed fairly and with reasonable consistency, and that this requires consideration of all relevant factors about the defendant's character and the crime.  

Summary

The case of Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982) is about a young man named Eddings who was sentenced to death for murder. The court had to decide if the death penalty was fair considering Eddings' difficult life.

Eddings' Case

Eddings was 16 years old when he was found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to death. During his trial, Eddings' lawyers showed that he had a very tough childhood with lots of problems. He suffered abuse and had mental health issues.

The Supreme Court's Decision

The Supreme Court decided that the judge in Eddings' trial made a mistake. The judge didn't pay attention to all the information about Eddings' difficult childhood. The Supreme Court said that the death penalty should be used fairly and consistently. This means that judges must consider all the information about a person's life and the crime they committed before deciding if they should get the death penalty.

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Footnotes and Citation

Cite

102 S.Ct. 869 (1982)

Highlights