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The jury sentenced Atkins to death, but the Virginia Supreme Court ordered a second sentencing hearing because the trial court had used a misleading verdict form. During resentencing the same forensic psychologist testified, but this time the State rebutted Atkins\u0027 intelligence. The jury again sentenced Atkins to death. In affirming, the Virginia Supreme Court relied on Penry v. Lynaugh, in rejecting Atkins\u0027 contention that he could not be sentenced to death because he is mentally retarded.\u003C\/p\u003E\n","question":"\u003Cp\u003EIs the execution of mentally retarded persons \u0022cruel and unusual punishment\u0022 prohibited by the Eighth Amendment?\u003C\/p\u003E\n","conclusion":"\u003Cp\u003EYes. In a 6-3 opinion delivered by Justice John Paul Stevens, the Court held that executions of mentally retarded criminals are \u0022cruel and unusual punishments\u0022 prohibited by the Eighth Amendment. Since it last confronted the issue, the Court reasoned that a significant number of States have concluded that death is not a suitable punishment for a mentally retarded criminal. Moreover, the Court concluded that there was serious concern whether either justification underpinning the death penalty - retribution and deterrence of capital crimes - applies to mentally retarded offenders, due to their lessened culpability. \u0022Construing and applying the Eighth Amendment in the light of our \u0027evolving standards of decency,\u0027 we therefore conclude that such punishment is excessive and that the Constitution \u0027places a substantive restriction on the State\u0027s power to take the life\u0027 of a mentally retarded offender,\u0022 wrote Justice Stevens. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and Justice Antonin Scalia filed dissenting opinions. 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