Which case held that it is unconstitutional to sentence minors to the death penalty?

• A. Roper v. Simmons
• B. Kennedy v. Louisiana
• C. Thompson v. Oklahoma
• D. Graham v. Florida

Answer: (A)

The central idea tested is how the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment applies to juveniles, using evolving standards of decency to limit what the state can do to young offenders. In Roper v. Simmons, the Court held that it is unconstitutional to sentence someone who was under 18 at the time of the crime to death. The justices reasoned that juveniles have lesser culpability due to immature development and greater potential for reform, and that society’s standards have evolved to view executions of minors as unacceptable. This ruling extends beyond earlier limits and means no one under 18 can be sentenced to death, regardless of the crime.