Sentences in the American criminal justice system are limited by the 8th Amendments cruel and unusual punishment clause which basically states that the punishment must fit the crime.  The 8th amendment also covers inhumane prison conditions.  Appeals of trial court verdicts are designed to remedy wrongs or errors committed in the trial.  (An appeal is NOT filed because a defendant does not like the verdict.  The appeal must show that the judge erred in a court ruling.)

I want you to brief Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005).  You must use the template that I have provided.  Directions are included in the syllabus and in the short video that has been uploaded in the Pages section of Canvas.  If you are still confused about briefing a case then send me an email and I will advise you.  Again, a brief should be no longer than two pages.  Do not cut and paste anything from the opinion into your brief.  That will be plagiarism and you will get a zero for that part of your assignment.