Roper vs. Simmons

Birthdate

Apr 26, 1976

Christopher Simmons was born on April 26, 1976 into an abusive household. Retrieved on September 5, 2012 from http://www.internationaljusticeproject.org/juvCSimmons.cfm

Alcohol at an Early Age

May 6, 1980

Simmons was exposed to alcohol at an extremely young age. When he was only four years old, his stepfather brought him to a bar and gave him drinks to amuse other people there. During his post-convition hearing, they stated that due to his lack of a supporting role model, he felt alone, insecure, depressed, and hopeless. Found on September 6, 2012 from http://www.internationaljusticeproject.org/juvCSimmons.cfm

Background

Jun 10, 1985

Simmon's stepfather was an alcoholic and abusive. He would scream at him, intimidate him, and severly beat him. One time, when he was a toddler, a friend witnessed him getting beat so hard that his ear drum burst and started bleeding. She witnessed his embarrassment and watched him cry and sob as a result of the abuse. found on September 6, 2012 from http://www.internationaljusticeproject.org/juvCSimmons.cfm

Stanford vs. Kentucky Case

Mar 27, 1989

This case stated that it was legal to execute minors between the ages of 15-17; however, this case was overturned by the Roper vs. Simmons case which said that it was unconstitutional to execute minors. found on September 9, 2012 from http://www.oyez.org/cases/1980-1989/1988/1988_87_5765

Drug Problem

Nov 5, 1990

By his teenage years, Simmons was smoking marijuana on the daily. When the abuse at his house got really bad, he would go to a neighbor's trailer home who was 28 years old and he would provide the younger children in the neighborhood with drugs. He would often make them commit crimes and give him the proceeds. found on Spetember 6, 2012 from http://www.internationaljusticeproject.org/juvCSimmons.cfm

The Crime

Sep 9, 1993

When Christopher Simmons was approximately seventeen years old, he commited murder of Shirley Crook. He committed burglery and murder by breaking into her house, tying up her hands and eyes, and throwing her over the state bridge into a river where she allegedly drowned. Retrieved on September 5, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roper_v._Simmons

Arrest

Sep 15, 1993

Police arrested Simmons at his highschool, junior at the time, and took him to the police station in Fenton, Missouri. He was read his Mirana Rights and waived his right to an attorney where he agreed to answer questions. The interrogation took less than two hours and finally Simmons confessed to the murder and agreed to perform a videotaped reenactment of the crime scene. Found on September 9, 2012 from http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-633.ZO.html

Charges

Sep 16, 1993

The State charged Simmons with burglary, kidnaping, stealing, and murder in the first degree. Since Simmons was 17 at the time of the crime, he was outside the criminal jurisdiction of Missouri’s juvenile court system. found on September 9, 2012 from http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-633.ZO.html

Trial Court

Oct 12, 1993

General trial courts have general jurisdiction of the case. They said that Simmons had a bad background with a bad home environment, drugs and alcohol, changes in behavior, etc. and the trial court said that no constitutional violation by reason of ineffective assistance of counsel and denied the motion for postconviction relief. After these proceedings had run their course, this Court held that the 8 and 14 amendments prohibit the execution of a mentally retarded person.

Circuit Court: Jefferson County, Missouri

Nov 19, 1993

This court has limited Jursdiction. The ruling was that Simmons was guilty of all charges (murder) and was given the Death Penalty. Found on September 9, 2012 from http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-633.ZO.html

Trial

Jun 10, 1994

9 months after Simmons committed the crime, he had already turned 18 and at that point he was tried and sentenced to death. Found on September 9, 2012 from http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-633.ZO.html

Atkins vs. Virginia Case

Jun 20, 2002

The Atkins vs. Virginia case was another factor in the decision of the Roper vs. Simmons case because it said that executing mentally retarded individuals violates the Eighth Amendment's ban on cruel and unusual punishments. Which the court was decididing if Christopher Simmons could fall under that category. found on September 9, 2012 from http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2001/2001_00_8452

Supreme Court: Court of Missouri

Oct 1, 2002

The court ruled that the death penalty didn't fit the crime the minor committed. This court had original and appellate jurisdiction of the case. Found on September 9, 2012 from http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/03-633.ZO.html

Appeals Court

Nov 26, 2002

The appeals court has appellate jurisdiction. The Missouri Supreme Court issued an order granting a writ of habeas corpus in his case. Missouri must respond in 15 days, Simmons has 30 days to file a brief, Missouri has 20 days to respond, and Simmons will have 10 days to reply. The court then from there will schedule an oral argument. found on September 9, 2012 from http://www.internationaljusticeproject.org/juvCSimmons.cfm

Simmons sentence is reduced

Aug 6, 2003

The Missouri Supreme Court reduces Simmons sentence to life in prison. Found on September 9, 2012 from http://chinesejil.oxfordjournals.org/content/4/2/565.full#sec-4

Ruling

Mar 1, 2005

The case was argued on October 13, 2004 but then on March 1, 2005, The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Simmons and stated that applying the death penalty to juveniles under eighteen years of age was unconstitutional. It was a 5-4 vote. Found on September 5, 2012 from http://www.internationaljusticeproject.org/juvCSimmons.cfm