"Locked Away Forever" -- life sentences
NAME: ________________________
ANSWER ON COMPOSITION PAPER --
1. What is the constitutional issue before the Supreme Court in this case?
2. What arguments are made by opponents of life imprisonment?
3. What arguments are used by opponents of life imprisonment for teens?
4. How does the Roper v. Simmons case (which banned the death penalty for teenagers under 18) impact this case on life imprisonment?
5. Although a life sentence for Joe Sullivan may or may not be "cruel", why does the author of the article conclude that the punishment is clearly "unusual"? Do you think the justices will agree?
6. In your opinion, is this sentence "excessive"? (Supreme Court test)
7. In your opinion, is this sentence "disproportionate"?
8. In your opinion, is this sentence "arbitrary"?
ANSWER ON COMPOSITION PAPER --
1. What is the constitutional issue before the Supreme Court in this case?
2. What arguments are made by opponents of life imprisonment?
3. What arguments are used by opponents of life imprisonment for teens?
4. How does the Roper v. Simmons case (which banned the death penalty for teenagers under 18) impact this case on life imprisonment?
5. Although a life sentence for Joe Sullivan may or may not be "cruel", why does the author of the article conclude that the punishment is clearly "unusual"? Do you think the justices will agree?
6. In your opinion, is this sentence "excessive"? (Supreme Court test)
7. In your opinion, is this sentence "disproportionate"?
8. In your opinion, is this sentence "arbitrary"?