Atkins v. Virginia

Atkins v. Virginia (2002) was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that ruled execution of individuals with intellectual disabilities violates the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. The Court acknowledged evolving social standards and scientific understanding that individuals with intellectual disabilities have reduced culpability and should not face the death penalty. This decision recognized the need for humane treatment in the justice system, emphasizing that punishments should be proportional to individual circumstances. Essentially, it affirmed that executing people who cannot fully comprehend their actions is fundamentally unjust.