October Term 2007 · Docket 07-343
Can states impose the death penalty for child rape?
Louisiana seeks to execute a man for raping a child. The defendant argues the Eighth Amendment forbids this punishment.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Jeffrey Fisher argued that no one has been executed for rape in forty-three years.
He claimed a long-standing national consensus exists against this punishment.
He stated that Louisiana's attempt violates the Eighth Amendment.
Ms. Clark described the brutal nature of the specific crime involved.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Court must decide if the Eighth Amendment bars the death penalty for rape. Louisiana argues the crime causes unique harm. The defendant claims a national consensus opposes this penalty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 16, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-51
What each side wants
Louisiana wants to execute the defendant for raping a child.
The defendant wants the Court to strike down his death sentence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-37
What each side says
Louisiana argues that violent child rape causes irreparable harm.
The defendant argues that a national consensus opposes this penalty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-37
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if states could define the class as rapists of children under twelve.
Justice Scalia asked how to describe a particularly heinous rape of a child.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-31
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of capital punishment for non-homicide crimes. It determines whether states can execute offenders for severe sexual violence. The outcome shapes future sentencing laws for violent crimes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-37
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-31
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.