Discuss at least two of the U.S. Supreme Court rulings in regards to Essay

Discuss at least two of the U.S. Supreme Court rulings in regards to the death penalty and how it has impacted capital punishment in the United States - Essay Example In fact, it was against the 8th Amendment of the United States Constitution. In the case of Kennedy v. Louisiana, 554 U.S. 407 (2008), involving the rape of a 12 year old girl by his stepfather, the ruling was against the death penalty. It was argued that one should not be sentenced to death since the victim did not die. They laid out debate that it was unfair to kill such a criminal since it was not a capital offense compared to other cases involving outright murder. There is a trend showing that with the passing of time, capital punishments had to be revised so as to allow justice and consistency in the rulings of court. No evidence has shown that the death penalty had an effect on the rate of crime in any state. This was because, if anything, it contributed to murder at all levels and the devaluation of human