1. SAGE Lecture Spark
March 5, 2019

2. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Death Row Inmate with Dementia
The U.S. Supreme Court sent a death-row case back to the lower courts on February 27th, ruling in favor of Vernon Madison, a death row inmate who claims he can no longer remember his crime.
Madison was sentenced to death in 1994 for the murder of a police officer.
Madison suffers from vascular dementia, and his attorneys argued that his death sentence violates the Eighth Amendment.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court stated that the State of Alabama must assess Madison’s competency and ensure that if he is to be executed, that he knows why.
Do you believe that the state of Alabama will be able to prove that Madison is competent?
Here are a few sources regarding the Supreme Court ruling:
Supreme Court blocks execution of inmate with dementia
By: Lydia Wheeler
The Hill
02/27/2019
Supreme Court Rules for Death Row Inmate With Dementia
By: Adam Liptak
The New York Times
Supreme Court takes case of death row inmate who forgot the crime
By: Andrew Chung
Business Insider
02/26/2019

3. Key Concepts
How does the Supreme Court’s ruling demonstrate the application of the Eighth Amendment to inmates?
The Eighth Amendment provides protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
According to Justice Elena Kagan, “if a person suffering from any mental disorder — dementia included — is unable to rationally understand why the state wants to execute him, then the Eighth Amendment doesn’t allow the execution.”
The following source provides more statistics and information pertaining to the death penalty in the United States:
Supreme Court blocks execution of inmate with dementia
By: Lydia Wheeler
The Hill
02/27/2019

4. Key Concepts According to the Death Penalty Information Center:
A total of 1,493 of prisoners have been executed since 1976.
Capital punishment is currently legal in 30 states.
Blacks make up 42% of death row prisoners.
As of July 1, 2018, 185 prisoners in Alabama were on death row and the state has executed a total of 64 inmates since 1976.
The following source provides more statistics and information pertaining to the death penalty in the United States:
Facts About the Death Penalty
Death Penalty Information Center
03/04/2019

5. Assessment
Writing: How prevalent is capital punishment in the United States?
Debate: Vernon Madison should still be executed for the crime he committed.
Poll: Do you believe that executing an individual with dementia is cruel and unusual punishment?
Short Answer: What constitutes cruel and unusual punishment?
Current Events Quiz
1. Vernon Madison suffers from ______.
A. dementia
B. schizophrenia
C. Bipolar disorder
D. Alzheimer’s
2. Vernon Madison is an inmate in which of the following states?
A. North Carolina
B. Georgia
C. Texas
D. Alabama
3. Capital punishment is legal in ______ states.
A. 30
B. 42
C. 45
D. 50
4. Vernon Madison was sentenced to death for killing a police officer in (T/F)
5. According to Justice Elena Kagan, a faulty memory alone triggers protections of the Eighth Amendment. (T/F)
6. The Alabama state court must assess Vernon Madison’s competency and ensure that if he is to be executed, that he understands why. (T/F)
Answers
1) A
2) D
3) A
4) T
5) F
6) T