List of United States Supreme Court opinions involving capital punishment
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued numerous rulings on the use of capital punishment (the death penalty). While some rulings applied very narrowly, perhaps to only one individual, other cases have had great influence over wide areas of procedure, eligible crimes, acceptable evidence and method of execution.
Eighth Amendment
Method of execution
Wilkerson v. Utah 99 U.S. 130 (1879) – Firing squad is constitutional.In re Kemmler , 136 U.S. 436 (1890) – Electrocution is constitutional.Stewart v. LaGrand 526 U.S. 115 (1999)Nelson v. Campbell 541 U.S. 637 (2004)Hill v. McDonough 547 U.S. 573 (2006) – Challenging constitutionality of the execution method is a §1983 lawsuit, not a habeas corpus petition, and thus not subject to the procedural bar on successive petitions.Baze v. Rees 553 U.S. 35 (2008) – Kentucky's lethal injection method using sodium thiopental is constitutional.Glossip v. Gross 576 U.S. 863 (2015) – To be unconstitutional, a method of execution must involve any risk of harm which is substantial when compared to a known and available alternative method. The condemned has the burden of proof.Bucklew v. Precythe 17-8151 , 587 U.S. ___ (2019) – Baze v. Rees Glossip v. Gross Barr v. Lee 20A8 , 591 U.S. ___ (2020)Nance v. Ward 21-439 , 597 U.S. ___ (2022)
Specific crimes
Coker v. Georgia 433 U.S. 584 (1977) – The death penalty is unconstitutional for rape of an adult woman when the victim is not killed.Enmund v. Florida 458 U.S. 782 (1982) – The death penalty is unconstitutional for a person who is a minor participant in a felony and does not kill, attempt to kill, or intend to kill.Tison v. Arizona 481 U.S. 137 (1987) – Death penalty may be imposed on a felony-murder defendant who was a major participant in the underlying felony and exhibits extreme indifference to human life.Sumner v. Shuman 483 U.S. 66 (1987) – Mandatory death penalty for a prison inmate who is convicted of murder while serving a life sentence without possibility of parole is unconstitutional.Kennedy v. Louisiana 554 U.S. 407 (2008) – The death penalty is unconstitutional for child rape and other non-homicidal crimes against the person.
Intellectual disability
Ford v. Wainwright 477 U.S. 399 (1986) – Execution of an insane convict is unconstitutional.Penry v. Lynaugh 492 U.S. 302 (1989) – Executing persons with mental retardation is constitutional. (Overruled in Atkins v. Virginia Stewart v. Martinez-Villareal 523 U.S. 637 (1998) –Atkins v. Virginia 536 U.S. 304 (2002) – The execution of mentally retarded offenders is unconstitutional.Panetti v. Quarterman 551 U.S. 930 (2007) – A person may not be executed if they do not understand the reason for their imminent execution. Once the state has set an execution date death-row inmates may litigate their competency to be executed in habeas corpus proceedings.Hall v. Florida 572 U.S. 701 (2014) – IQ tests alone can not be used as a rigid limit for determining intellectual disability.Moore v. Texas 15-797 , 581 U.S. ___ (2017)Dunn v. Madison 17-193 , 583 U.S. ___ (2017)Madison v. Alabama 17-7505 , 586 U.S. ___ (2019) – Executing a prisoner who cannot remember committing his or her crime may be constitutional, but executing a prisoner who suffers from dementia or another disorder, rather than psychotic delusions, may not be.
Furman v. Georgia 408 U.S. 238 (1972)Gregg v. Georgia 428 U.S. 153 (1976)Proffitt v. Florida 428 U.S. 242 (1976)Jurek v. Texas 428 U.S. 262 (1976)Woodson v. North Carolina 428 U.S. 280 (1976)Roberts v. Louisiana 428 U.S. 325 (1976)Gardner v. Florida 430 U.S. 349 (1977)Lockett v. Ohio 438 U.S. 586 (1978)Godfrey v. Georgia 446 U.S. 420 (1980)Eddings v. Oklahoma 455 U.S. 104 (1982)Zant v. Stephens 462 U.S. 862 (1983)Barclay v. Florida 463 U.S. 939 (1983)California v. Ramos 463 U.S. 992 (1983)Spaziano v. Florida 468 U.S. 447 (1984)Caldwell v. Mississippi 472 U.S. 320 (1985)Skipper v. South Carolina 476 U.S. 1 (1986)California v. Brown 479 U.S. 538 (1987)McCleskey v. Kemp 481 U.S. 279 (1987)Hitchcock v. Dugger 481 U.S. 393 (1987)Booth v. Maryland 482 U.S. 496 (1987)Sumner v. Shuman 483 U.S. 66 (1987)Maynard v. Cartwright 486 U.S. 356 (1988)Mills v. Maryland 486 U.S. 367 (1988)South Carolina v. Gathers 490 U.S. 805 (1989) – Admission of a victim impact statement at the sentencing phase of a death penalty-trial is unconstitutional. (Overruled in Payne v. Tennessee Blystone v. Pennsylvania 494 U.S. 299 (1990)Boyde v. California 494 U.S. 370 (1990)McKoy v. North Carolina 494 U.S. 433 (1990)Clemons v. Mississippi 494 U.S. 738 (1990)Walton v. Arizona 497 U.S. 639 (1990)Shell v. Mississippi 498 U.S. 1 (1990)Lankford v. Idaho 500 U.S. 110 (1991)Payne v. Tennessee 501 U.S. 808 (1991) – Victim impact statements are admissible during the penalty phase of a capital case.Sochor v. Florida 504 U.S. 527 (1992)Espinosa v. Florida 505 U.S. 1079 (1992)Johnson v. Texas 509 U.S. 350 (1993)Harris v. Alabama 513 U.S. 504 (1995) – Allowing the judge to impose a death sentence and making the jury recommendation non-binding even when it calls for life imprisonment is constitutional.Jones v. United States , 527 U.S. 373 (1999)Oregon v. Guzek 546 U.S. 517 (2006) – States may limit the evidence of innocence a defendant may present at his sentencing hearing to evidence already presented at his trial.Kansas v. Marsh 548 U.S. 163 (2006) – Imposing the death penalty when mitigating and aggravating factors are in equipoise is constitutional.Kansas v. Carr 14-449 , 577 U.S. ___ (2016)Bosse v. Oklahoma 15-9173 , 580 U.S. ___ (2016)
Other
Fifth Amendment
Double jeopardy
Sixth Amendment
Witherspoon v. Illinois 391 U.S. 510 (1968)Davis v. Georgia 429 U.S. 122 (1976)Adams v. Texas 448 U.S. 38 (1980)Spaziano v. Florida 468 U.S. 447 (1984)Lockhart v. McCree 476 U.S. 162 (1986)Gray v. Mississippi 481 U.S. 648 (1987)Ross v. Oklahoma 487 U.S. 81 (1988)Hillwin v. Florida 490 U.S. 638 (1989)Clemons v. Mississippi 494 U.S. 738 (1990)Walton v. Arizona 497 U.S. 639 (1990)Ring v. Arizona 536 U.S. 584 (2002) – A death sentence where the necessary aggravating factors are determined by a judge violates a defendant's constitutional right to a trial by jury, as the jury should determine if there are such factors sufficient to allow the death penalty.Hurst v. Florida 14-7505 , 577 U.S. ___ (2016) – Florida law giving judges the power to decide facts related to sentencing violates the Sixth Amendment in light of Ring
Other
United States v. Jackson 390 U.S. 570 (1968)Brady v. United States 397 U.S. 742 (1970)Mu'Min v. Virginia 500 U.S. 415 (1991)Schad v. Arizona 501 U.S. 624 (1991)Florida v. Nixon 543 U.S. 175 (2004)Holmes v. South Carolina 547 U.S. 319 (2006)Boyer v. Louisiana 569 U.S. 238 (2013)McCoy v. Louisiana 16-8255 , 584 U.S. ___ (2018)United States v. Tsarnaev 20-443 , 595 U.S. ___ (2022)
Fourteenth Amendment
Due Process
Powell v. Alabama 287 U.S. 45 (1932)Williams v. New York , 337 U.S. 241 (1949)Leland v. Oregon 343 U.S. 790 (1952)Irvin v. Dowd 366 U.S. 717 (1961)Beecher v. Alabama 389 U.S. 35 (1967)Witherspoon v. Illinois 391 U.S. 510 (1968)Beecher v. Alabama 408 U.S. 234 (1972)Furman v. Georgia 408 U.S. 238 (1972)Gregg v. Georgia 428 U.S. 153 (1976)Proffitt v. Florida 428 U.S. 242 (1976)Jurek v. Texas 428 U.S. 262 (1976)Woodson v. North Carolina 428 U.S. 280 (1976)Roberts v. Louisiana 428 U.S. 325 (1976)Davis v. Georgia 429 U.S. 122 (1976)Gardner v. Florida 430 U.S. 349 (1977)Lockett v. Ohio 438 U.S. 586 (1978)Godfrey v. Georgia 446 U.S. 420 (1980)Beck v. Alabama 447 U.S. 625 (1980)Adams v. Texas 448 U.S. 38 (1980)Eddings v. Oklahoma 455 U.S. 104 (1982)Zant v. Stephens 462 U.S. 862 (1983)Barclay v. Florida 463 U.S. 939 (1983)California v. Ramos 463 U.S. 992 (1983)Spaziano v. Florida 468 U.S. 447 (1984)Ake v. Oklahoma 470 U.S. 68 (1985)Skipper v. South Carolina 476 U.S. 1 (1986)Lockhart v. McCree 476 U.S. 162 (1986)California v. Brown 479 U.S. 538 (1987)Hitchcock v. Dugger 481 U.S. 393 (1987)Gray v. Mississippi 481 U.S. 648 (1987)Sumner v. Shuman 483 U.S. 66 (1987)Mills v. Maryland 486 U.S. 367 (1988)Ross v. Oklahoma 487 U.S. 81 (1988)Boyde v. California 494 U.S. 370 (1990)McKoy v. North Carolina 494 U.S. 433 (1990)Whitmore v. Arkansas 495 U.S. 149 (1990)Walton v. Arizona 497 U.S. 639 (1990)Cage v. Louisiana 498 U.S. 39 (1990)Mu'Min v. Virginia 500 U.S. 415 (1991)Schad v. Arizona 501 U.S. 624 (1991)Sochor v. Florida 504 U.S. 527 (1992)Morgan v. Illinois 504 U.S. 719 (1992) — A defendant may challenge for cause a prospective juror who would automatically vote to impose the death penalty in every capital case.Arave v. Creech 507 U.S. 463 (1993)Johnson v. Texas 509 U.S. 350 (1993)Simmons v. South Carolina 512 U.S. 154 (1994)Cooper v. Oklahoma 517 U.S. 348 (1996)Ramdass v. Angelone 530 U.S. 156 (2000)Shafer v. South Carolina 532 U.S. 36 (2001)Kelly v. South Carolina 534 U.S. 246 (2002)Sattazahn v. Pennsylvania 537 U.S. 101 (2003)Howell v. Mississippi 543 U.S. 440 (2005)Deck v. Missouri 544 U.S. 622 (2005)Holmes v. South Carolina 547 U.S. 319 (2006)Lynch v. Arizona 15-8366 , 578 U.S. ___ (2016)Williams v. Pennsylvania 15-5040 , 579 U.S. ___ (2016)Kahler v. Kansas 18-6135 , 589 U.S. ___ (2020)
Exculpatory evidence
Equal Protection
Louisiana ex rel. Francis v. Resweber 329 U.S. 459 (1947)Batson v. Kentucky 476 U.S. 79 (1986)McCleskey v. Kemp 481 U.S. 279 (1987)Ford v. Georgia 498 U.S. 411 (1991)Miller-El v. Dretke 545 U.S. 231 (2005)Snyder v. Louisiana 552 U.S. 472 (2008)Foster v. Chatman 14-8349 , 578 U.S. ___ (2016)Flowers v. Mississippi 17-9572 , 588 U.S. ___ (2019)
Habeas corpus
Moore v. Dempsey 261 U.S. 86 (1923)In re Yamashita 327 U.S. 1 (1946)Brown v. Allen 344 U.S. 443 (1953)Chessman v. Teets 354 U.S. 156 (1957)Irvin v. Dowd 359 U.S. 394 (1959)Irvin v. Dowd 366 U.S. 717 (1961)Boulden v. Holman 394 U.S. 478 (1969)Brady v. United States 397 U.S. 742 (1970)Maxwell v. Bishop 398 U.S. 262 (1970)Estelle v. Smith 451 U.S. 454 (1981)Zant v. Stephens 462 U.S. 862 (1983)Wainwright v. Goode 464 U.S. 78 (1983)Pulley v. Harris 465 U.S. 37 (1984)Strickland v. Washington 466 U.S. 668 (1984)Francis v. Franklin 471 U.S. 307 (1985)Vasquez v. Hillery 474 U.S. 254 (1986)Cabana v. Bullock 474 U.S. 376 (1986)Lockhart v. McCree 476 U.S. 162 (1986)Murray v. Carrier 477 U.S. 478 (1986)McCleskey v. Kemp 481 U.S. 279 (1987)Hitchcock v. Dugger 481 U.S. 393 (1987)Sumner v. Shuman 483 U.S. 66 (1987)Yates v. Aiken 484 U.S. 211 (1988)Amadeo v. Zant 486 U.S. 214 (1988)Maynard v. Cartwright 486 U.S. 356 (1988)Dugger v. Adams 489 U.S. 401 (1989)Butler v. McKellar 494 U.S. 407 (1990)Saffle v. Parks 494 U.S. 484 (1990)Sawyer v. Smith 497 U.S. 227 (1990)Parker v. Dugger 498 U.S. 308 (1991)McCleskey v. Zant 499 U.S. 467 (1991)Coleman v. Thompson 501 U.S. 722 (1991)Stringer v. Black 503 U.S. 222 (1992)Lockhart v. Fretwell 506 U.S. 364 (1993)Graham v. Collins 506 U.S. 461 (1993)Godinez v. Moran 509 U.S. 389 (1993)McFarland v. Scott 512 U.S. 849 (1994)Kyles v. Whitley 514 U.S. 419 (1995)Felker v. Turpin 518 U.S. 651 (1996)Lambrix v. Singletary 520 U.S. 518 (1997)Bracy v. Gramley 520 U.S. 899 (1997)O'Dell v. Netherland 521 U.S. 151 (1997)Calderon v. Thompson 523 U.S. 538 (1998)Stewart v. Martinez-Villareal 523 U.S. 637 (1998)Weeks v. Angelone 528 U.S. 225 (2000)Terry Williams v. Taylor , 529 U.S. 362 (2000)Michael Williams v. Taylor , 529 U.S. 420 (2000)Ramdass v. Angelone 530 U.S. 156 (2000)Penry v. Johnson 532 U.S. 782 (2001)Mickens v. Taylor 535 U.S. 162 (2002)Bell v. Cone 535 U.S. 685 (2002)Horn v. Banks 536 U.S. 266 (2002)Stewart v. Smith 536 U.S. 856 (2002)Woodford v. Visciotti 537 U.S. 19 (2002)Abdur'Rahman v. Bell 537 U.S. 88 (2002)Miller-El v. Cockrell 537 U.S. 322 (2003)Woodford v. Garceau 538 U.S. 202 (2003)Wiggins v. Smith 539 U.S. 510 (2003)Mitchell v. Esparza 540 U.S. 12 (2003)Banks v. Dretke 540 U.S. 668 (2004)Tennard v. Dretke 542 U.S. 274 (2004)Schriro v. Summerlin 542 U.S. 348 (2004) – Ring v. Arizona Beard v. Banks 542 U.S. 406 (2004)Smith v. Texas 543 U.S. 37 (2004)Bell v. Cone 543 U.S. 447 (2005)Brown v. Payton 544 U.S. 133 (2005)Rhines v. Weber 544 U.S. 269 (2005)Bradshaw v. Stumpf 545 U.S. 175 (2005)Miller-El v. Dretke 545 U.S. 231 (2005)Rompilla v. Beard 545 U.S. 374 (2005)Bell v. Thompson 545 U.S. 794 (2005)Schriro v. Smith 546 U.S. 6 (2005)Bradshaw v. Richey 546 U.S. 74 (2005)Brown v. Sanders 546 U.S. 212 (2006)Ayers v. Belmontes 549 U.S. 7 (2006)Carey v. Musladin 549 U.S. 70 (2006)Lawrence v. Florida 549 U.S. 327 (2007)Abdul-Kabir v. Quarterman 550 U.S. 233 (2007)Brewer v. Quarterman 550 U.S. 286 (2007)Smith v. Texas 550 U.S. 297 (2007)Schriro v. Landrigan 550 U.S. 465 (2007)Roper v. Weaver 550 U.S. 598 (2007)Uttecht v. Brown 551 U.S. 1 (2007)Panetti v. Quarterman 551 U.S. 930 (2007)Allen v. Siebert 552 U.S. 3 (2007)Arave v. Hoffman 552 U.S. 117 (2008)Bell v. Kelly 555 U.S. 55 (2008)Harbison v. Bell 556 U.S. 180 (2009) – Indigent death row inmates sentenced under state law have a right to federally funded habeas counsel in post-conviction state clemency proceedings, when the state has denied such counsel.Cone v. Bell 556 U.S. 449 (2009)Bobby v. Bies 556 U.S. 825 (2009)Corcoran v. Levenhagen 558 U.S. 1 (2009)Bobby v. Van Hook 558 U.S. 4 (2009)Wong v. Belmontes 558 U.S. 15 (2009)Porter v. McCollum 558 U.S. 30 (2009)Smith v. Spisak 558 U.S. 139 (2010)Wellons v. Hall 558 U.S. 220 (2010)Wood v. Allen 558 U.S. 290 (2010)Thaler v. Haynes 559 U.S. 43 (2010)Jefferson v. Upton 560 U.S. 284 (2010)Holland v. Florida 560 U.S. 631 (2010)Magwood v. Patterson 561 U.S. 320 (2010)Sears v. Upton 561 U.S. 945 (2010)Wilson v. Corcoran 562 U.S. 1 (2010)Cullen v. Pinholster 563 U.S. 170 (2011)Bobby v. Mitts 563 U.S. 395 (2011)Bobby v. Dixon 565 U.S. 23 (2011)Maples v. Thomas 565 U.S. 266 (2012)Wetzel v. Lambert 565 U.S. 520 (2012)Martel v. Clair 565 U.S. 648 (2012)Parker v. Matthews 567 U.S. 37 (2012)Ryan v. Valencia Gonzales 568 U.S. 57 (2013)Trevino v. Thaler 569 U.S. 413 (2013)Ryan v. Schad 570 U.S. 521 (2013)Hinton v. Alabama 571 U.S. 263 (2014)White v. Woodall 572 U.S. 415 (2014)Lopez v. Smith 574 U.S. 1 (2014)Jennings v. Stephens 574 U.S. 271 (2015)Christeson v. Roper 574 U.S. 373 (2015)Davis v. Ayala 13-1428 , 576 U.S. ___ (2015)Brumfield v. Cain 13-1433 , 576 U.S. ___ (2015)White v. Wheeler 14-1372 , 577 U.S. ___ (2015)Wearry v. Cain 14-10008 , 577 U.S. ___ (2016)Foster v. Chatman 14-8349 , 578 U.S. ___ (2016)Williams v. Pennsylvania 15-5040 , 579 U.S. ___ (2016)Buck v. Davis 15-8049 , 580 U.S. ___ (2017)Rippo v. Baker 16-6316 , 580 U.S. ___ (2017)McWilliams v. Dunn 16-5294 , 582 U.S. ___ (2017) – Capital defendants are entitled to a court-appointed medical expert for their defense.Jenkins v. Hutton 16-1116 , 582 U.S. ___ (2017)Davila v. Davis 16-6219 , 582 U.S. ___ (2017)Dunn v. Madison 17-193 , 583 U.S. ___ (2017)Tharpe v. Sellers 17-6075 , 583 U.S. ___ (2018)Ayestas v. Davis 16-6795 , 584 U.S. ___ (2018)Wilson v. Sellers 16-6855 , 584 U.S. ___ (2018)Shoop v. Hill 18-56 , 586 U.S. ___ (2019)McKinney v. Arizona 18-1109 , 589 U.S. ___ (2020)Andrus v. Texas 18-9674 , 590 U.S. ___ (2020)Shinn v. Kayer 19-1302 , 592 U.S. ___ (2020)Mays v. Hines 20-507 , 592 U.S. ___ (2021)Dunn v. Reeves 20-1084 , 594 U.S. ___ (2021)Shinn v. Ramirez 20-1009 , 596 U.S. ___ (2022)Shoop v. Twyford 21-511 , 596 U.S. ___ (2022)Nance v. Ward 21-439 , 597 U.S. ___ (2022)Cruz v. Arizona 21-846 , 598 U.S. ___ (2023)Thornell v. Jones 22-982 , 602 U.S. ___ (2024)Hamm v. Smith 23-167 , 604 U.S. ___ (2024)
Summary reversal and vacatur
Beecher v. Alabama 389 U.S. 35 (1967)Beecher v. Alabama 408 U.S. 234 (1972)Davis v. Georgia 429 U.S. 122 (1976)Wainwright v. Goode 464 U.S. 78 (1983)Espinosa v. Florida 505 U.S. 1079 (1992)Horn v. Banks 536 U.S. 266 (2002)Stewart v. Smith 536 U.S. 856 (2002)United States v. Bass 536 U.S. 862 (2002)Woodford v. Visciotti 537 U.S. 19 (2002)Mitchell v. Esparza 540 U.S. 12 (2003)Smith v. Texas 543 U.S. 37 (2004)Bell v. Cone 543 U.S. 447 (2005)Schriro v. Smith 546 U.S. 6 (2005)Bradshaw v. Richey 546 U.S. 74 (2005)Allen v. Siebert 552 U.S. 3 (2007)Arave v. Hoffman 552 U.S. 117 (2008)Corcoran v. Levenhagen 558 U.S. 1 (2009)Bobby v. Van Hook 558 U.S. 4 (2009)Wong v. Belmontes 558 U.S. 15 (2009)Porter v. McCollum 558 U.S. 30 (2009)Wellons v. Hall 558 U.S. 220 (2010)Thaler v. Haynes 559 U.S. 43 (2010)Jefferson v. Upton 560 U.S. 284 (2010)Sears v. Upton 561 U.S. 945 (2010)Wilson v. Corcoran 562 U.S. 1 (2010)Bobby v. Mitts 563 U.S. 395 (2011)Bobby v. Dixon 565 U.S. 23 (2011)Wetzel v. Lambert 565 U.S. 520 (2012)Parker v. Matthews 567 U.S. 37 (2012)Ryan v. Schad 570 U.S. 521 (2013)Hinton v. Alabama 571 U.S. 263 (2014)Lopez v. Smith 574 U.S. 1 (2014)Christeson v. Roper 574 U.S. 373 (2015)White v. Wheeler 14-1372 , 577 U.S. ___ (2015)Wearry v. Cain 14-10008 , 577 U.S. ___ (2016)Lynch v. Arizona 15-8366 , 578 U.S. ___ (2016)Bosse v. Oklahoma 15-9173 , 580 U.S. ___ (2016)Rippo v. Baker 16-6316 , 580 U.S. ___ (2017)Jenkins v. Hutton 16-1116 , 582 U.S. ___ (2017)Dunn v. Madison 17-193 , 583 U.S. ___ (2017)Tharpe v. Sellers 17-6075 , 583 U.S. ___ (2018)Shoop v. Hill 18-56 , 586 U.S. ___ (2019)Moore v. Texas 18-443 , 586 U.S. ___ (2019)Andrus v. Texas 18-9674 , 590 U.S. ___ (2020)Barr v. Lee 20A8 , 591 U.S. ___ (2020)Shinn v. Kayer 19-1302 , 592 U.S. ___ (2020)Mays v. Hines 20-507 , 592 U.S. ___ (2021)Dunn v. Reeves 20-1084 , 594 U.S. ___ (2021)Hamm v. Smith 23-167 , 604 U.S. ___ (2024)
International law
Miscellaneous
Rooney v. North Dakota 196 U.S. 319 (1905) — Adoption of private execution over public execution after sentence does not violate the Ex post facto clause .Malloy v. South Carolina 237 U.S. 180 (1915) — Retroactively changing the execution method does not violate the Ex post facto clause.Schick v. Reed 419 U.S. 256 (1974)Loving v. United States 517 U.S. 748 (1996)McMillian v. Monroe County, Alabama 520 U.S. 781 (1997)United States v. Bass 536 U.S. 862 (2002)Skinner v. Switzer 562 U.S. 521 (2011)Sharp v. Murphy 17-1107 , 591 U.S. ___ (2020)Ramirez v. Collier 21-5592 , 595 U.S. ___ (2022)Reed v. Goertz 21-442 , 598 U.S. ___ (2023)
Chronological listing
Coleman v. Tennessee 97 U.S. 509 (1878)Wilkerson v. Utah 99 U.S. 130 (1879)In re Kemmler , 136 U.S. 436 (1890)Rooney v. North Dakota 196 U.S. 319 (1905)Malloy v. South Carolina 237 U.S. 180 (1915)Moore v. Dempsey 261 U.S. 86 (1923)Powell v. Alabama 287 U.S. 45 (1932)In re Yamashita 327 U.S. 1 (1946)Louisiana ex rel. Francis v. Resweber 329 U.S. 459 (1947)Williams v. New York , 337 U.S. 241 (1949)Leland v. Oregon 343 U.S. 790 (1952)Brown v. Allen 344 U.S. 443 (1953)Chessman v. Teets 354 U.S. 156 (1957)Green v. United States 355 U.S. 184 (1957)Irvin v. Dowd 359 U.S. 394 (1959)Irvin v. Dowd 366 U.S. 717 (1961)Brady v. Maryland 373 U.S. 83 (1963)Beecher v. Alabama 389 U.S. 35 (1967)United States v. Jackson 390 U.S. 570 (1968)Witherspoon v. Illinois 391 U.S. 510 (1968)Boulden v. Holman 394 U.S. 478 (1969)Brady v. United States 397 U.S. 742 (1970)Maxwell v. Bishop 398 U.S. 262 (1970)Beecher v. Alabama 408 U.S. 234 (1972)Furman v. Georgia 408 U.S. 238 (1972)Schick v. Reed 419 U.S. 256 (1974)Gregg v. Georgia 428 U.S. 153 (1976)Proffitt v. Florida 428 U.S. 242 (1976)Jurek v. Texas 428 U.S. 262 (1976)Woodson v. North Carolina 428 U.S. 280 (1976)Roberts v. Louisiana 428 U.S. 325 (1976)Davis v. Georgia 429 U.S. 122 (1976)Gardner v. Florida 430 U.S. 349 (1977)Coker v. Georgia 433 U.S. 584 (1977)Lockett v. Ohio 438 U.S. 586 (1978)Godfrey v. Georgia 446 U.S. 420 (1980)Beck v. Alabama 447 U.S. 625 (1980)Adams v. Texas 448 U.S. 38 (1980)Bullington v. Missouri 451 U.S. 430 (1981)Estelle v. Smith 451 U.S. 454 (1981)Eddings v. Oklahoma 455 U.S. 104 (1982)Tibbs v. Florida 457 U.S. 31 (1982)Enmund v. Florida 458 U.S. 782 (1982)Zant v. Stephens 462 U.S. 862 (1983)Barclay v. Florida 463 U.S. 939 (1983)California v. Ramos 463 U.S. 992 (1983)Wainwright v. Goode 464 U.S. 78 (1983)Pulley v. Harris 465 U.S. 37 (1984)Strickland v. Washington 466 U.S. 668 (1984)Arizona v. Rumsey 467 U.S. 203 (1984)Spaziano v. Florida 468 U.S. 447 (1984)Ake v. Oklahoma 470 U.S. 68 (1985)Francis v. Franklin 471 U.S. 307 (1985)Caldwell v. Mississippi 472 U.S. 320 (1985)Vasquez v. Hillery 474 U.S. 254 (1986)Cabana v. Bullock 474 U.S. 376 (1986)Skipper v. South Carolina 476 U.S. 1 (1986)Batson v. Kentucky 476 U.S. 79 (1986)Poland v. Arizona 476 U.S. 147 (1986)Lockhart v. McCree 476 U.S. 162 (1986)Ford v. Wainwright 477 U.S. 399 (1986)Murray v. Carrier 477 U.S. 478 (1986)California v. Brown 479 U.S. 538 (1987)Tison v. Arizona 481 U.S. 137 (1987)McCleskey v. Kemp 481 U.S. 279 (1987)Hitchcock v. Dugger 481 U.S. 393 (1987)Gray v. Mississippi 481 U.S. 648 (1987)Booth v. Maryland 482 U.S. 496 (1987)Sumner v. Shuman 483 U.S. 66 (1987)Yates v. Aiken 484 U.S. 211 (1988)Amadeo v. Zant 486 U.S. 214 (1988)Maynard v. Cartwright 486 U.S. 356 (1988)Mills v. Maryland 486 U.S. 367 (1988)Ross v. Oklahoma 487 U.S. 81 (1988)Thompson v. Oklahoma 487 U.S. 815 (1988)Dugger v. Adams 489 U.S. 401 (1989)Hillwin v. Florida 490 U.S. 638 (1989)South Carolina v. Gathers 490 U.S. 805 (1989)Penry v. Lynaugh 492 U.S. 302 (1989)Stanford v. Kentucky 492 U.S. 361 (1989)Blystone v. Pennsylvania 494 U.S. 299 (1990)Boyde v. California 494 U.S. 370 (1990)Butler v. McKellar 494 U.S. 407 (1990)McKoy v. North Carolina 494 U.S. 433 (1990)Saffle v. Parks 494 U.S. 484 (1990)Clemons v. Mississippi 494 U.S. 738 (1990)Whitmore v. Arkansas 495 U.S. 149 (1990)Sawyer v. Smith 497 U.S. 227 (1990)Walton v. Arizona 497 U.S. 639 (1990)Shell v. Mississippi 498 U.S. 1 (1990)Cage v. Louisiana 498 U.S. 39 (1990)Parker v. Dugger 498 U.S. 308 (1991)Ford v. Georgia 498 U.S. 411 (1991)Arizona v. Fulminante 499 U.S. 279 (1991)McCleskey v. Zant 499 U.S. 467 (1991)Lankford v. Idaho 500 U.S. 110 (1991)Mu'Min v. Virginia 500 U.S. 415 (1991)Schad v. Arizona 501 U.S. 624 (1991)Coleman v. Thompson 501 U.S. 722 (1991)Payne v. Tennessee 501 U.S. 808 (1991)Stringer v. Black 503 U.S. 222 (1992)Sochor v. Florida 504 U.S. 527 (1992)Morgan v. Illinois 504 U.S. 719 (1992)Espinosa v. Florida 505 U.S. 1079 (1992)Lockhart v. Fretwell 506 U.S. 364 (1993)Graham v. Collins 506 U.S. 461 (1993)Arave v. Creech 507 U.S. 463 (1993)Johnson v. Texas 509 U.S. 350 (1993)Godinez v. Moran 509 U.S. 389 (1993)Simmons v. South Carolina 512 U.S. 154 (1994)McFarland v. Scott 512 U.S. 849 (1994)Harris v. Alabama 513 U.S. 504 (1995)Kyles v. Whitley 514 U.S. 419 (1995)Cooper v. Oklahoma 517 U.S. 348 (1996)Loving v. United States 517 U.S. 748 (1996)Felker v. Turpin 518 U.S. 651 (1996)Lambrix v. Singletary 520 U.S. 518 (1997)McMillian v. Monroe County, Alabama 520 U.S. 781 (1997)Bracy v. Gramley 520 U.S. 899 (1997)O'Dell v. Netherland 521 U.S. 151 (1997)Breard v. Greene 523 U.S. 371 (1998)Calderon v. Thompson 523 U.S. 538 (1998)Stewart v. Martinez-Villareal 523 U.S. 637 (1998)Federal Republic of Germany v. United States 526 U.S. 111 (1999)Stewart v. LaGrand 526 U.S. 115 (1999)Jones v. United States , 527 U.S. 373 (1999)Weeks v. Angelone 528 U.S. 225 (2000)Terry Williams v. Taylor , 529 U.S. 362 (2000)Michael Williams v. Taylor , 529 U.S. 420 (2000)Ramdass v. Angelone 530 U.S. 156 (2000)Shafer v. South Carolina 532 U.S. 36 (2001)Penry v. Johnson 532 U.S. 782 (2001)Kelly v. South Carolina 534 U.S. 246 (2002)Mickens v. Taylor 535 U.S. 162 (2002)Bell v. Cone 535 U.S. 685 (2002)Horn v. Banks 536 U.S. 266 (2002)Atkins v. Virginia 536 U.S. 304 (2002)Stewart v. Smith 536 U.S. 856 (2002)United States v. Bass 536 U.S. 862 (2002)Woodford v. Visciotti 537 U.S. 19 (2002)Abdur'Rahman v. Bell 537 U.S. 88 (2002)Sattazahn v. Pennsylvania 537 U.S. 101 (2003)Miller-El v. Cockrell 537 U.S. 322 (2003)Woodford v. Garceau 538 U.S. 202 (2003)Wiggins v. Smith 539 U.S. 510 (2003)Mitchell v. Esparza 540 U.S. 12 (2003)Banks v. Dretke 540 U.S. 668 (2004)Nelson v. Campbell 541 U.S. 637 (2004)Tennard v. Dretke 542 U.S. 274 (2004)Schriro v. Summerlin 542 U.S. 348 (2004)Beard v. Banks 542 U.S. 406 (2004)Smith v. Texas 543 U.S. 37 (2004)Florida v. Nixon 543 U.S. 175 (2004)Howell v. Mississippi 543 U.S. 440 (2005)Bell v. Cone 543 U.S. 447 (2005)Roper v. Simmons 543 U.S. 551 (2005)Brown v. Payton 544 U.S. 133 (2005)Rhines v. Weber 544 U.S. 269 (2005)Deck v. Missouri 544 U.S. 622 (2005)Medellín v. Dretke 544 U.S. 660 (2005)Bradshaw v. Stumpf 545 U.S. 175 (2005)Miller-El v. Dretke 545 U.S. 231 (2005)Rompilla v. Beard 545 U.S. 374 (2005)Bell v. Thompson 545 U.S. 794 (2005)Schriro v. Smith 546 U.S. 6 (2005)Bradshaw v. Richey 546 U.S. 74 (2005)Brown v. Sanders 546 U.S. 212 (2006)Oregon v. Guzek 546 U.S. 517 (2006)Holmes v. South Carolina 547 U.S. 319 (2006)Hill v. McDonough 547 U.S. 573 (2006)Kansas v. Marsh 548 U.S. 163 (2006)Ayers v. Belmontes 549 U.S. 7 (2006)Carey v. Musladin 549 U.S. 70 (2006)Lawrence v. Florida 549 U.S. 327 (2007)Abdul-Kabir v. Quarterman 550 U.S. 233 (2007)Brewer v. Quarterman 550 U.S. 286 (2007)Smith v. Texas 550 U.S. 297 (2007)Schriro v. Landrigan 550 U.S. 465 (2007)Roper v. Weaver 550 U.S. 598 (2007)Uttecht v. Brown 551 U.S. 1 (2007)Panetti v. Quarterman 551 U.S. 930 (2007)Allen v. Siebert 552 U.S. 3 (2007)Arave v. Hoffman 552 U.S. 117 (2008)Snyder v. Louisiana 552 U.S. 472 (2008)Medellín v. Texas 552 U.S. 491 (2008)Baze v. Rees 553 U.S. 35 (2008)Bell v. Kelly 555 U.S. 55 (2008)Harbison v. Bell 556 U.S. 180 (2009)Cone v. Bell 556 U.S. 449 (2009)Bobby v. Bies 556 U.S. 825 (2009)Corcoran v. Levenhagen 558 U.S. 1 (2009)Bobby v. Van Hook 558 U.S. 4 (2009)Wong v. Belmontes 558 U.S. 15 (2009)Porter v. McCollum 558 U.S. 30 (2009)Smith v. Spisak 558 U.S. 139 (2010)Wellons v. Hall 558 U.S. 220 (2010)Wood v. Allen 558 U.S. 290 (2010)Thaler v. Haynes 559 U.S. 43 (2010)Jefferson v. Upton 560 U.S. 284 (2010)Holland v. Florida 560 U.S. 631 (2010)Magwood v. Patterson 561 U.S. 320 (2010)Sears v. Upton 561 U.S. 945 (2010)Wilson v. Corcoran 562 U.S. 1 (2010)Skinner v. Switzer 562 U.S. 521 (2011)Connick v. Thompson 563 U.S. 51 (2011)Cullen v. Pinholster 563 U.S. 170 (2011)Bobby v. Mitts 563 U.S. 395 (2011)Leal Garcia v. Texas 564 U.S. 940 (2011)Bobby v. Dixon 565 U.S. 23 (2011)Maples v. Thomas 565 U.S. 266 (2012)Wetzel v. Lambert 565 U.S. 520 (2012)Martel v. Clair 565 U.S. 648 (2012)Parker v. Matthews 567 U.S. 37 (2012)Ryan v. Valencia Gonzales 568 U.S. 57 (2013)Boyer v. Louisiana 569 U.S. 238 (2013)Trevino v. Thaler 569 U.S. 413 (2013)Ryan v. Schad 570 U.S. 521 (2013)Kansas v. Cheever 571 U.S. 87 (2013)Hinton v. Alabama 571 U.S. 263 (2014)White v. Woodall 572 U.S. 415 (2014)Hall v. Florida 572 U.S. 701 (2014)Lopez v. Smith 574 U.S. 1 (2014)Jennings v. Stephens 574 U.S. 271 (2015)Christeson v. Roper 574 U.S. 373 (2015)Davis v. Ayala 13-1428 , 576 U.S. ___ (2015)Brumfield v. Cain 13-1433 , 576 U.S. ___ (2015)Glossip v. Gross 14-7955 , 576 U.S. ___ (2015)White v. Wheeler 14-1372 , 577 U.S. ___ (2015)Hurst v. Florida 14-7505 , 577 U.S. ___ (2016)Kansas v. Carr 14-449 , 577 U.S. ___ (2016)Wearry v. Cain 14-10008 , 577 U.S. ___ (2016)Foster v. Chatman 14-8349 , 578 U.S. ___ (2016)Lynch v. Arizona 15-8366 , 578 U.S. ___ (2016)Williams v. Pennsylvania 15-5040 , 579 U.S. ___ (2016)Bosse v. Oklahoma 15-9173 , 580 U.S. ___ (2016)Buck v. Davis 15-8049 , 580 U.S. ___ (2017)Rippo v. Baker 16-6316 , 580 U.S. ___ (2017)Moore v. Texas 15-797 , 581 U.S. ___ (2017)McWilliams v. Dunn 16-5294 , 582 U.S. ___ (2017)Jenkins v. Hutton 16-1116 , 582 U.S. ___ (2017)Davila v. Davis 16-6219 , 582 U.S. ___ (2017)Dunn v. Madison 17-193 , 583 U.S. ___ (2017)Tharpe v. Sellers 17-6075 , 583 U.S. ___ (2018)Ayestas v. Davis 16-6795 , 584 U.S. ___ (2018)Wilson v. Sellers 16-6855 , 584 U.S. ___ (2018)McCoy v. Louisiana 16-8255 , 584 U.S. ___ (2018)Shoop v. Hill 18-56 , 586 U.S. ___ (2019)Moore v. Texas 18-443 , 586 U.S. ___ (2019)Madison v. Alabama 17-7505 , 586 U.S. ___ (2019)Bucklew v. Precythe 17-8151 , 587 U.S. ___ (2019)Flowers v. Mississippi 17-9572 , 588 U.S. ___ (2019)McKinney v. Arizona 18-1109 , 589 U.S. ___ (2020)Kahler v. Kansas 18-6135 , 589 U.S. ___ (2020)Andrus v. Texas 18-9674 , 590 U.S. ___ (2020)Sharp v. Murphy 17-1107 , 591 U.S. ___ (2020)Barr v. Lee 20A8 , 591 U.S. ___ (2020)Shinn v. Kayer 19-1302 , 592 U.S. ___ (2020)Mays v. Hines 20-507 , 592 U.S. ___ (2021)Dunn v. Reeves 20-1084 , 594 U.S. ___ (2021)United States v. Tsarnaev 20-443 , 595 U.S. ___ (2022)Ramirez v. Collier 21-5592 , 595 U.S. ___ (2022)Shinn v. Ramirez 20-1009 , 596 U.S. ___ (2022)Shoop v. Twyford 21-511 , 596 U.S. ___ (2022)Nance v. Ward 21-439 , 597 U.S. ___ (2022)Cruz v. Arizona 21-846 , 598 U.S. ___ (2023)Reed v. Goertz 21-442 , 598 U.S. ___ (2023)Thornell v. Jones 22-982 , 602 U.S. ___ (2024)Hamm v. Smith 23-167 , 604 U.S. ___ (2024)Glossip v. Oklahoma 22-7466 , 604 U.S. ___ (2025)
See also
References
List of cases by Court Seal of the United States Supreme Court Complete list By recent term By subject matter Other lists
Cruel and unusual punishment
Incarceration Death penalty Corporal punishment Other
