Analyzing McCleskey v. Kemp

Gregoriette·

Law

Preview

At a Glance

Grade Level9th Grade

SubjectLaw

Original Prompt

SIDE 1: McCleskey (Defense / Petitioner) 🗣️ Main Argument: Georgia’s death penalty system is racially biased and violates the 14th Amendment (Equal Protection) and the 8th Amendment (Cruel and Unusual Punishment). 🧾 Evidence & Points: The Baldus Study Showed that defendants charged with killing white victims were 4.3 times more likely to receive the death penalty than those charged with killing Black victims. Black defendants who killed white victims had the highest likelihood of being sen...

This resource focuses on the landmark Supreme Court case McCleskey v. Kemp (1987), allowing students to explore constitutional arguments surrounding racial bias in the criminal justice system. It engages learners in a collaborative role-play, simulating Supreme Court hearings where they assume the roles of McCleskey's lawyers, Kemp's lawyers, and judges. Students analyze claims of racial discrimination in Georgia's death penalty through the Baldus Study, which presents statistical evidence of systemic bias, and engage in constructing compelling arguments based on the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. This immersive activity aims to deepen understanding of constitutional law, the complexities of justice, and civil rights implications.