Is the Death Penalty Illegal?!? | Gregg v. Georgia

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In episode 62 of Supreme Court Briefs, the Supreme Court determines the death penalty is unconstitutional, but then later says it actually kind of is.

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Texas and Georgia

The 1960s

Texas sentences one man to death and Georgia sentences two men to death for crimes involving rape and murder. However, their lawyers argued that they didn’t deserve the death penalty for their crimes and appealed their cases. But, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and Supreme Court of Georgia both upheld the death sentences of all three men.

That said, the three cases did catch the attention of the Supreme Court, who combined them into one to see if they went against the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. In particular, the clause that said there shall be no “cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Well what the heck did that really mean? The Court heard oral arguments for the cases on January 17, 1972. The big question was “Did sentencing these three men to death go against both the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments?”

The Court said yes, although it was a close one. In a 5-4 decision, the Court announced on June 29, 1972 that the death penalty in the cases of these three men was indeed cruel and unusual punishment and therefore went against the Constitution.