Directions: Be sure to save an electronic copy of your answer before submitting it to Ashworth College for grading. Unless otherwise stated, answer in complete sentences, and be sure to use correct English, spelling, and grammar. Sources must be cited in APA format. Your response should be four (4) double‐spaced pages; refer to the “Format Requirementsʺ page located at the beginning of this learning guide for specific format requirements.

You are a paralegal assisting an attorney who is representing an individual who has been convicted of a murder during a home invasion and who was sentenced in state court to be executed. You are assisting with research for an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Provide the following information.

1.      A brief history of capital punishment in the United States. Include case law.

2.      An explanation of the constitutional ban on “cruel and unusual punishment,” including the four primary dimensions as interpreted by the Court.

3.      Discuss an example you found interesting of a right asserted by inmates under the Eighth Amendment’s Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause and the outcome.

Grading Rubric

Please refer to the rubric on the next page for the grading criteria for this assignment.