Go to Main Section of Page

		September 14, 2025

				Hot Topics
				Capital Punishment   Document Name    Date   Document Type  A Political Death Knell No More   Feb. 19, 2007 Legislative Analysis Abdul-Kabir v. Quarterman, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division,   Apr. 25, 2007 Case Summary Application of Capital Punishment Policy     Encyclopedia Entry Arave, Warden v. Creech: Brief Summary   Mar. 30, 1993 Case Summary Arguments about Capital Punishment: Deterrence, Morality, Racism, and Error Rates     Encyclopedia Entry Arizona v. Rumsey: Brief Summary   May 29, 1984 Case Summary Atkins v. Virginia: Opinion Excerpt   Jun. 20, 2002 Primary Source Atkins v. Virginia   Jun. 20, 2002 Case Summary Ayers, Acting Warden v. Belmontes   Nov. 13, 2006 Case Summary Baldwin v. Alabama: Brief Summary   Jun. 17, 1985 Case Summary Barclay v. Florida (463 U.S. 939): Brief Summary   Jul. 6, 1983 Case Summary Barefoot v. Estelle: Ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court on Stays of Execution   Jul. 6, 1983 Primary Source Baze v. Rees, Director, Kentucky Department of Corrections     Case Summary Beard v. Banks   Jun. 24, 2004 Case Summary Bell, Warden v. Cone   Jan. 24, 2005 Case Summary Blystone v. Pennsylvania: Brief Summary   Feb. 28, 1990 Case Summary Boyde v. California: Brief Summary   Mar. 5, 1990 Case Summary Bradshaw, Warden v. Richey   Nov. 28, 2005 Case Summary Brady v. U.S., Parker v. North Carolina: Brief Summary   May 4, 1970 Case Summary Brewer v. Quarterman, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division,   Apr. 25, 2007 Case Summary Brown, Warden v. Payton   Mar. 22, 2005 Case Summary Brown, Warden v. Sanders   Jan. 11, 2006 Case Summary Buchanan v. Angelone, Director, Virginia Department of Corrections: Brief Summary   Jan. 21, 1998 Case Summary Bullington v. Missouri (451 U.S. 430): Brief Summary   May 4, 1981 Case Summary Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin: "Capital Punishment 2003"   Nov. 14, 2004 Primary Source Caldwell v. Mississippi: Brief Summary   Jun. 11, 1985 Case Summary California Death Penalty Declared Unconstitutional   Jul. 16, 2014 Primary Source California v. Brown: Brief Summary   Jan. 27, 1987 Case Summary Capital Punishment and Human Rights     Encyclopedia Entry Capital Punishment Chronology     Facts & Figures Capital Punishment, 1968 Legislative Chronology   1968 Legislative Analysis Capital Punishment, 1974 Legislative Chronology   1974 Legislative Analysis Capital Punishment, 1984 Legislative Chronology   1984 Legislative Analysis Capital Punishment: Collaboration between International and National Abolitionists     Encyclopedia Entry Capital Punishment: The International Trend     Encyclopedia Entry Capital Punishment: The U.S. Trend     Encyclopedia Entry Capital Punishment: Variety within Constitutional Boundaries     Encyclopedia Entry Clemons v. Mississippi: Brief Summary   Mar. 28, 1990 Case Summary Coker v. Georgia: Brief Summary   Jun. 29, 1977 Case Summary Coker v. Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court Striking Down Georgia Law Allowing Death Penalty for Rapists. Justices B. White, W. Brennan, T. Marshall, Chief Justice W. Burger   Jun. 29, 1977 Primary Source Connecticut Board of Pardons v. Dumschat (452 U.S. 458): Brief Summary   Jun. 17, 1981 Case Summary Corbitt v. New Jersey: Brief Summary   Dec. 11, 1978 Case Summary Day v. McDonough, Interim Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections   Apr. 25, 2006 Case Summary Death Penalty Controversies   Sep. 23, 2005 CQ Researcher Death Penalty Debates   Nov. 19, 2010 CQ Researcher Death Penalty Update   Jan. 8, 1999 CQ Researcher Death Penalty, 1969 Legislative Chronology   1969 Legislative Analysis Death Row's Drug Deal   Feb. 14, 2011 Legislative Analysis Decision of the South African Supreme Court on the Death Penalty: A. Chaskalson   Jun. 6, 1995 Primary Source Dobbert v. Florida: Brief Summary   Jun. 17, 1977 Case Summary Eddings v. Oklahoma (455 U.S. 104): Brief Summary   Jan. 19, 1982 Case Summary Enmund v. Florida (458 U.S. 782): Brief Summary   Jul. 2, 1982 Case Summary Estelle v. Smith (451 U.S. 454): Brief Summary   May 18, 1981 Case Summary Evans, Acting Warden v. Chavis   Jan. 10, 2006 Case Summary Ford v. Wainwright: Brief Summary   Jun. 26, 1986 Case Summary Furman v. Georgia, Jackson v. Georgia, Branch v. Texas: Brief Summary   Jun. 29, 1972 Case Summary Furman v. Georgia, Jackson v. Georgia, Branch v. Texas: U.S. Supreme Court Ruling Death Penalty Amounts to Cruel, Unusual Punishment. Justices Douglas, Brennan, Stewart, White, Marshall, Burger, Blackmun, Powell, Rehnquist   Jun. 29, 1972 Primary Source Furman v. Georgia: Brief Summary   Jun. 29, 1972 Case Summary Gardner v. Florida: Brief Summary   Mar. 23, 1977 Case Summary Gilmore v. Utah: U.S. Supreme Court Order Lifting Stay of Execution of G. M. Gilmore. Chief Justice W. Burger, Justices J. P. Stevens, B. R. White, T. Marshall, H. A. Blackmun   Dec. 13, 1976 Primary Source Godfrey v. Georgia: Brief Summary   May 19, 1980 Case Summary Godfrey v. Georgia: U.S. Supreme Court Opinion Overturning Death Sentence on Grounds the State of Georgia Misused the Law in Sentencing. Justices P. Stewart, T. Marshall, Chief Justice Burger, Justice B. White   May 19, 1980 Primary Source Greene v. Georgia: Brief Summary   Dec. 16, 1996 Case Summary Gregg v. Georgia (428 U.S. 153), Proffitt v. Florida (428 U.S. 242), Jure: Brief Summary   Jul. 2, 1976 Case Summary Harbison v. Bell, Warden,   Apr. 1, 2009 Case Summary Harris v. Alabama: Brief Summary   Feb. 22, 1995 Case Summary Herrera v. Collins, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division: Brief Summary   Jan. 25, 1993 Case Summary Herrera v. Collins, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division: Detailed Summary   Jan. 25, 1993 Case Summary Herrera v. Collins, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division: Opinion Excerpt   Jan. 25, 1993 Primary Source Herrera v. Collins: Opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court on Requiring a Convict Introducing Post-trial Evidence to Meet High Standards of Proof; Justices Rehnquist, O'Connor, Scalia, White, Blackmun   Jan. 25, 1993 Primary Source Hill v. McDonough, Interim Secretary, Florida Department of Corrections   Jan. 12, 2006 Case Summary Hopkins, Warden v. Reeves: Brief Summary   Jun. 8, 1998 Case Summary Hopper v. Evans (456 U.S. 605): Brief Summary   May 24, 1982 Case Summary International Bill of Human Rights: Fact Sheet     Primary Source International Criticism of U.S. Capital Punishment Policies     Encyclopedia Entry International Criticism of U.S. Capital Punishment Policies: The U.S. Response     Encyclopedia Entry Johnson v. Mississippi: Brief Summary   Jun. 13, 1988 Case Summary Johnson v. Texas: Brief Summary   Jun. 24, 1993 Case Summary Jones v. United States: Brief Summary   Jun. 21, 1999 Case Summary Kansas v. Marsh   Jun. 26, 2006 Case Summary Kennedy v. Louisiana     Case Summary Lankford v. Idaho: Brief Summary   May 20, 1991 Case Summary Lockett v. Ohio, Bell v. Ohio: Brief Summary   Jul. 3, 1978 Case Summary Lockett v. State of Ohio, Bell v. State of Ohio: Ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court Overturning the Ohio Death Penalty Statute   Jul. 3, 1978 Primary Source Lockhart v. McCree: Ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court on Exclusion of Opponents of the Death Penalty from Jury Service. Justices W.H. Rehnquist, T. Marshall   May 5, 1986 Primary Source Loving v. United States: Brief Summary   Jun. 3, 1996 Case Summary Marshall v. Lonberger (459 U.S. 422): Brief Summary   Feb. 22, 1983 Case Summary Maryland Abolishes the Death Penalty   May 2, 2013 Primary Source Maynard v. Cartwright: Brief Summary   Jun. 6, 1988 Case Summary McCleskey v. Kemp: Brief Summary   Apr. 22, 1987 Case Summary McCleskey v. Kemp: Ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court Upholding Georgia's Death Penalty. Justices L.F. Powell Jr., W.J. Brennan Jr., T. Marshall, J.P. Stevens   Apr. 22, 1987 Primary Source McCleskey v. Zant, Superintendent, Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Center: Brief Summary   Apr. 16, 1991 Case Summary McCleskey v. Zant, Superintendent, Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Center: Detailed Summary   Apr. 16, 1991 Case Summary McCleskey v. Zant, Superintendent, Georgia Diagnostic & Classification Center: Opinion Excerpt   Apr. 16, 1991 Primary Source McFarland v. Scott, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division: Brief Summary   Jun. 30, 1994 Case Summary McFarland v. Scott, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division: Detailed Summary   Jun. 30, 1994 Case Summary McFarland v. Scott, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division: Opinion Excerpt   Jun. 30, 1994 Primary Source McGautha v. California, Crampton v. Ohio: Brief Summary   Apr. 2, 1971 Case Summary McKoy v. North Carolina: Brief Summary   Mar. 5, 1990 Case Summary Nelson v. Campbell, Commissioner, Alabama Department of Corrections   May 24, 2004 Case Summary New Champion for an Old Cause   Feb. 19, 2007 Legislative Analysis Notable Quotes on Capital Punishment     Facts & Figures Ohio Adult Parole Authority v. Woodard: Brief Summary   Mar. 25, 1998 Case Summary Oregon v. Guzek   Feb. 22, 2006 Case Summary Panetti v. Quarterman, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division,   Jun. 28, 2007 Case Summary Parker v. Dugger: Brief Summary   Jan. 22, 1991 Case Summary Payne v. Tennessee: Brief Summary   Jun. 27, 1991 Case Summary Payne v. Tennessee: Detailed Summary   Jun. 27, 1991 Case Summary Payne v. Tennessee: Opinion Excerpt   Jun. 27, 1991 Primary Source Payne v. Tennessee: Opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court Permitting Evidence about the Impact of a Murder on the Victim's Family to be Presented to Jury; Justices W.H. Rehnquist, O'Connor, Scalia, Marshall   Jun. 27, 1991 Primary Source Penry v. Johnson, Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division   Jun. 4, 2001 Case Summary Penry v. Johnson, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Institutional Division: Opinion of the Supreme Court on Death Sentence of Mentally Retarded Convicted Rapist and Murderer; Justice O'Connor   Jun. 4, 2001 Primary Source Poland v. Arizona: Brief Summary   May 5, 1986 Case Summary Public Opinion on the Death Penalty, 1936-2001   1936 - 2001 Facts & Figures Public Opinion on the Death Penalty, 19722004 (percent)   1972 - 1940 Facts & Figures Pulley v. Harris: Brief Summary   Jan. 23, 1984 Case Summary Ramdass v. Angelone, Director, Virginia Department of Corrections: Brief Summary   Jun. 12, 2000 Case Summary Report of the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics: "Capital Punishment 1998"   Dec. 12, 1999 Primary Source Report of the United Nations (UN) Commission on Human Rights on the Use of the Death Penalty in the U.S.   Apr. 3, 1998 Primary Source Rethinking the Death Penalty   Nov. 16, 2001 CQ Researcher Richmond v. Lewis, Director, Arizona Department of Corrections: Brief Summary   Dec. 1, 1992 Case Summary Ring v. Arizona   Jun. 24, 2002 Case Summary Roberts v. Louisiana: Brief Summary   Jun. 6, 1977 Case Summary Roberts v. Louisiana: U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Mandatory Death Penalty for Police Killers. Per Curiam, Chief Justice W. Burger, W. Blackmun, W. Rehnquist   Jun. 6, 1977 Primary Source Romano v. Oklahoma: Brief Summary   Jun. 13, 1994 Case Summary Rompilla v. Beard, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections   Jun. 20, 2005 Case Summary Roper v. Simmons: Opinion Excerpts   Mar. 1, 2005 Primary Source Roper, Superintendent, Potosi Correctional Center v. Simmons   Mar. 1, 2005 Case Summary Sattazahn v. Pennsylvania   Jan. 14, 2003 Case Summary Satterwhite v. Texas: Brief Summary   May 31, 1988 Case Summary Sawyer v. Whitley, Warden: Brief Summary   Jun. 22, 1992 Case Summary Schad v. Arizona: Brief Summary   Jun. 21, 1991 Case Summary Schick v. Reed: Brief Summary   Dec. 23, 1974 Case Summary Schiro v. Farley, Superintendent, Indiana State Prison: Brief Summary   Jan. 19, 1994 Case Summary Schriro, Director, Arizona Department of Corrections v. Smith   Oct. 17, 2005 Case Summary Selected Supreme Court Cases on Capital Punishment     Encyclopedia Entry Shafer v. South Carolina   Mar. 20, 2001 Case Summary Simmons v. South Carolina: Brief Summary   Jun. 17, 1994 Case Summary Smith v. Murray: Brief Summary   Jun. 26, 1986 Case Summary Smith v. Texas,   Apr. 25, 2007 Case Summary Smith v. Texas   Nov. 15, 2004 Case Summary Smith, Warden v. Spisak   Jan. 12, 2010 Case Summary Sochor v. Florida: Brief Summary   Jun. 8, 1992 Case Summary Statement by Timothy J. McVeigh on His Being Sentenced to Death for His Part in Bombing the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, Oklahoma City, OK   Aug. 14, 1997 Primary Source Statement by Warden of the U.S. Penitentiary in Terre Haute, IN, Following the Execution of Timothy McVeigh   Jun. 11, 2001 Primary Source Sumner v. Shuman: Brief Summary   Jun. 22, 1987 Case Summary Supreme Court on Constitutionality of Lethal Injections   Sep. 25, 2007 Primary Source Supreme Court on the Death Penalty   Jun. 26, 2006 Primary Source Supreme Court Ruling Gives No Reprieve to Death-Penalty Drug   Jul. 13, 2015 Legislative Analysis Table 10-18  Death Penalty in the States: Number of Executions, 19302011, and Number on Death Row, 2010     Facts & Figures Table 3-12  Public Opinion on the Death Penalty, 19722010 (percent)     Facts & Figures Tennard v. Dretke   Jun. 24, 2004 Case Summary The Capital Punishment Crossroads   Feb. 19, 2007 Legislative Analysis The Death Penalty in the States: Number of Executions, 19302005, and Number on Death Row, 2005   2005 Facts & Figures The U.S. Supreme Court and the Constitutionality of Capital Punishment     Encyclopedia Entry Thompson v. Oklahoma: Brief Summary   Jun. 29, 1988 Case Summary Tison v. Arizona: Brief Summary   Apr. 21, 1987 Case Summary Tuggle v. Netherland, Warden: Brief Summary   Oct. 30, 1995 Case Summary Tuilaepa v. California: Brief Summary   Jun. 30, 1994 Case Summary Turner v. Murray: Brief Summary   Apr. 30, 1986 Case Summary U.S. Jurisdictions that Lack the Death Penalty     Encyclopedia Entry U.S. Supreme Court Decisions on State Death Penalty Statutes. Justices P. Stewart, L. F. Powell, J. P. Stevens   Jul. 2, 1976 Primary Source U.S. Supreme Court on the Death Penalty for the Rape of a Child   Jun. 25, 2008 Primary Source U.S. Supreme Court on Use of Lethal Injection in Death Penalty Cases   Apr. 16, 2008 Primary Source United States v. Bass   Jun. 28, 2002 Case Summary Uttecht, Superintendent, Washington State Penitentiary v. Brown   Jun. 4, 2007 Case Summary Wainwright v. Witt: Brief Summary   Jan. 21, 1985 Case Summary Walton v. Arizona: Brief Summary   Jun. 27, 1990 Case Summary Weeks v. Angelone, Director, Virginia Department of Corrections: Brief Summary   Jan. 19, 2000 Case Summary Whitmore v. Arkansas: Brief Summary   Apr. 24, 1990 Case Summary Wife of Chinese Politician Sentenced to Death with Reprieve for Murder   Aug. 20, 2012 Primary Source Witherspoon v. Illinois: Brief Summary   1968 Case Summary Woodson v. North Carolina, Roberts v. Louisiana: Brief Summary   Jul. 2, 1976 Case Summary Zant v. Stephens (456 U.S. 410): Brief Summary   May 3, 1982 Case Summary Zant v. Stephens (456 U.S. 410): Brief Summary   Jun. 22, 1983 Case Summary
				© 2025, CQ Press, an Imprint of SAGE Publishing. All Rights Reserved. 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 600 • Washington, D.C. 20037 • 202-729-1800 Certain material used with permission of CQ-Roll Call, Inc. General Terms of Service | Copyright Notice and Takedown Policy Privacy Policy | CCPA – Do Not Sell My Personal Information | CCPA | Manage Cookies