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Death Penalty
Atkins v. Virginia
Decided: 2002
In brief
Barred execution of individuals with intellectual disabilities as cruel and unusual punishment.
The Court's ruling in depth
Reversing its 1989 decision in Penry, the Court held that a national consensus had emerged against executing the intellectually disabled and that such executions violate the Eighth Amendment's evolving standards of decency. Atkins is a leading example of the 'evolving standards' methodology.