Find Legal Topics > Kids Laws > Furman v. Georgia

Furman v. Georgia

Furman v. Georgia Furman v. Georgia: The Background
The owner of a home was awakened when William Henry Furman broke-in and starting rummaging through the owner’s things. When William Henry Furman attempted to escape the home he dropped his gun. The gun, upon hitting the ground, discharged and killed the homeowner. The death was truly tragic; it was a freak accident that resulted in murder. 
William Henry Furman, when questioned by police, claimed that the firearm was discharged in an accidental fashion. Upon review of the case, the state of Georgia explained that due to the fact that the murder took place in the midst of a robbery, Furman was eligible to be executed if the court found him guilty of the murder. Furman thought this ruling was ridiculous. He appealed the execution, explaining that the nature of sentencing for capital punishment (sentencing someone to death) lacked a solid definition and could vary from state to state.
Capital punishment is also known as the death penalty. It is the legal process that allows state governments or the federal government to execute individuals who are convicted of committing serious crimes. The death penalty is thought to be fair in a number of states; some states believe that an individual should be killed if that person commits a terrible crime. 

Furman v. Georgia: The Case Profile
The Furman v. Georgia case took place on January 17th of 1971. The case dealt with administrative law; this field of law deals with events where the Federal Government of the United States engages its citizens. In Furman v. Georgia, William Henry Furman claimed that his sentencing violated his rights guaranteed by the 14th amendment. William Henry Furman claimed that he was not allowed to pursuit “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”—these rights are awarded in the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. 

Furman v. Georgia: The Verdict
The case of Furman v. Georgia was decided on June 19th of 1971. The case of Furman v. Georgia was heard in the Supreme Court of the United States. 
The United States Supreme Court overturned Furman’s execution. The court in Furman v. Georgia stated that unless a uniform policy of determining who is eligible for capital punishment exists, the death penalty will be regarded as “cruel and unusual punishment.” 
Because of the verdict in Furman v. Georgia, the death penalty was ruled illegal within the United States in 1976. Later, in Gregg v. Georgia, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was allowed only in the event that the sentencing was delivered at the time of the trial and that the jury who had sentenced the individual to death was determined to review the details of the case. 

Related Topics