Roper v. Simmons (2005) Majority . 1 Roper also contends that the indicia of national consensus show that American society no longer approves of the death penalty for juvenile offenders. Simmons I. On March 1, 2005, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) released their syllabus and opinion on the case of Roper v. Simmons, which is ruling over the constitutionality of sentencing juvenile offenders to death. It will explain and identify the holdings of the lower courts and it will explain and identify the decision of the U.S Supreme Court. Introduction This paper will address the Roper v. Simmons 543 U.S551 (2005); it will specifically address the arrest, trial and the legal issues that arose. Roper v. Simmons Does the execution of minors violate the prohibition of “cruel and unusual punishment” found in the Eighth Amendment and applied to the states through the incorporation doctrine of the 14th Amendment? Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005), was a landmark decision in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that it is unconstitutional to impose capital punishment for crimes committed while under the age of 18. After he had turned 18, he was sentenced to death. 2 Accordingly, the Roper decision is … DONALD P. ROPER, SUPERINTENDENT, POTOSI CORRECTIONAL CENTER, PETITIONER v. CHRISTOPHER SIMMONS ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI [March 1, 2005] JUSTICE KENNEDY delivered the opinion of the Court. In Roper v. Simmons , the U.S. Supreme Court was once again asked to determine if the execution of a juvenile, aged 16 or 17 years at the time of the offense, represents cruel and unusual punishment. Roper v. Simmons (2005) Majority . 03-633 Argued October 13, 2004. On writ of certiorari to the supreme court of Missouri [March 1, 2005] At age 17, respondent Simmons planned and committed a capital murder. SIMMONS: Supreme Court Case Provides Great Introduction to Basic Legal Principles Jordan M. Blanke In Roper v. Simmons the Supreme Court banned the death penalty for crimes committed by minors. In Roper v. Simmons the United States Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional to sentence a juvenile under the age of 18 to the death penalty. DPIC Summary: Majority Opinion By a vote of 5-4, the U.S. Supreme Court on March 1, 2005 held that the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments forbid the execution of offenders who were under the age of 18 when their crimes were committed. This case requires us to address, for the second time in a decade and a half, whether it is permissible under the The case of Roper v. Simmons in the United States Supreme Court featured the defendant Christopher Simmons and the plaintiff, Roper, who was the acting prosecutor for the state of Missouri. Roper v. Simmons Case Brief - Rule of Law: "The Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments forbid imposition of the death penalty on offenders who were under the age of 18 when their crimes were committed."