Law and Psychology: SCOTUS – Roper vs. Simmons

Patrick Goldberg

Florida Institute of Technology

Roper vs. Simmons – Setting

• In 1993, some of the headlines that gripped the nation included:

The World Trade Center in New York was

damaged by a bomb

Michael Jordan retired for the 1st time

Standoff at the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, TX ended in tragedy

The Bobbitt name became synonymous with a particular kind of crime

The North American Free Trade Agreement was ratified

Jurassic Park was the year’s top grossing movie

Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” was the

year’s top song

Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (intro)

• In September, 1993, Shirley Crook was murdered.

• The murderers were under the age of eighteen (18) when the crime was committed.

• The legality and conscionability of the death penalty for those under the age of eighteen (18) lead to this course being escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court

• The American Psychological Association submitted a brief regarding the psychological and neurological implications of such a standard.

Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (facts)

• September 8, 1993, Christopher Simmons (17), John Tessmer (16), and Charlie Benjamin (15) met up to plan a home invasion, assault, kidnapping, and murder.

Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (facts, cont.)

• Tessmer left the group, but Simmons and Benjamin continued to the Crook’s home and, finding and open back window, entered the home.

Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (facts, cont.)

• Simmons and Benjamin tied Crook up with an electrical cord, duct tape, a robe belt, and a towel. They then transported the victim in her van to a railroad bridge.

Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (facts, cont.)

• Simmons and Benjamin then, as discussed prior to the events of the evening, threw Crook from the bridge into the water below. Crook survived the fall but, due to her bindings, drowned in the water below.

Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (verdict)

• Simmons was tried as an adult, found guilty, and sentenced to death for the grisly murder.

Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (appeal)

• The sentence of death was appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court, who found against executing juveniles and sentenced Simmons to life in prison without parole.

• The State of Missouri appealed this verdict to the U.S. Supreme Court.

• The short name of the case comes from the prison superintendant, Donald P. Roper, introduced as the complaining party to the appeal.

Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (defense)