Stanford v. Kentucky

Stanford v. Kentucky (1989) was a U.S. Supreme Court case that dealt with the constitutionality of executing individuals convicted of crimes while they were teenagers, specifically those aged 16 or 17. The Court ruled that the death penalty for minors did not constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment, as it aligned with the practices of many states at the time. This decision underscored the Court's approach to evolving standards of decency in society, setting a precedent that allowed states to impose severe penalties on young offenders up until it was eventually overruled in later cases.