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Death Penalty
Roper v. Simmons
Decided: 2005
In brief
Barred the execution of offenders who were under 18 at the time of their crime.
The Court's ruling in depth
Building on Atkins, the Court held that executing offenders for crimes committed as juveniles violates the Eighth Amendment. Justice Kennedy relied on emerging scientific consensus about adolescent brain development and on a national and international trend against juvenile executions. Roper set the stage for a line of cases restricting harsh punishments for juveniles, including Miller v. Alabama (mandatory life without parole).