Which landmark case prohibits execution for intellectually disabled individuals?

• A. Ring v. Arizona
• B. Furman v. Georgia
• C. Atkins v. Virginia
• D. Gregg v. Georgia

Answer: (C)

Executing individuals with intellectual disabilities is barred under the Eighth Amendment, reflecting evolving standards of decency in society. In Atkins v. Virginia (2002), the Supreme Court held that executing someone with intellectual disability violates the Constitution because these individuals have diminished culpability and understanding of the consequences of their actions. The decision emphasizes that states must use reliable assessments of intellectual disability and should not impose the death penalty on those who meet that threshold, rather than relying on a fixed test like a specific IQ score alone.

For broader context, prior big cases shaped how the death penalty is applied: Furman v. Georgia (1972) struck down existing statutes due to arbitrariness, Gregg v. Georgia (1976) permitted a guided, bifurcated process for deciding death sentences, and Ring v. Arizona (2002) required a jury—not a judge—to determine aggravating factors that can make a defendant eligible for the death penalty.