Furman struck down existing death-penalty statutes as arbitrary and unconstitutional.

Evidence

Furman v. Georgia (1972) The system by which states determined who received the death penalty was arbitrary and capricious, violating the ban on cruel and unusual punishments. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2006

Categorization

• XREF: Anchors Gregg (2006) and later proportionality cases in the chapter’s death-penalty sequence. — connects to: Furman voided every existing death-penalty statute but did not abolish capital punishment itself. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2004; The Supreme Court’s Furman ruling cleared death rows on constitutional grounds
• QUESTION: How did states rewrite statutes to satisfy Furman, and did the reforms actually reduce arbitrariness?

Broader Connections

• Furman voided every existing death-penalty statute but did not abolish capital punishment itself. #qualifies (1.00) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2004
• The Supreme Court’s Furman ruling cleared death rows on constitutional grounds #expands (1.00)