2. Roper vs. Simmons – Setting
• In 1993, some of the headlines that gripped the nation included:
The World Trade Center
in New York was
damaged by a bomb
Michael Jordan retired for the 1st time
Standoff at the Branch Davidian compound
in Waco, TX ended in tragedy
The Bobbitt name became synonymous
with a particular kind of crime
The North American Free Trade
Agreement was ratified
Jurassic Park was the year’s
top grossing movie
Whitney Houston’s “I Will
Always Love You” was the
year’s top song
3. Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (intro)
• In September, 1993, Shirley Crook was murdered.
• The murderers were under the age of eighteen (18)
when the crime was committed.
• The legality and conscionability of the death penalty
for those under the age of eighteen (18) lead to this
course being escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court
• The American Psychological Association submitted a
brief regarding the psychological and neurological
implications of such a standard.
4. Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (facts)
• September 8, 1993, Christopher Simmons (17),
John Tessmer (16), and Charlie Benjamin (15)
met up to plan a home invasion, assault,
kidnapping, and murder.
5. Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (facts, cont.)
• Tessmer left the group, but Simmons and
Benjamin continued to the Crook’s home and,
finding and open back window, entered the
home.
6. Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (facts, cont.)
• Simmons and Benjamin tied Crook up with an
electrical cord, duct tape, a robe belt, and a
towel. They then transported the victim in her
van to a railroad bridge.
7. Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (facts, cont.)
• Simmons and Benjamin then, as discussed prior
to the events of the evening, threw Crook from
the bridge into the water below. Crook survived
the fall but, due to her bindings, drowned in the
water below.
8. Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (verdict)
• Simmons was tried as an adult, found guilty, and
sentenced to death for the grisly murder.
9. Roper vs. Simmons – The Case (appeal)
• The sentence of death was appealed to the Missouri
Supreme Court, who found against executing juveniles
and sentenced Simmons to life in prison without parole.
• The State of Missouri appealed this verdict to the U.S.
Supreme Court.
• The short name of the case comes from the prison
superintendant, Donald P. Roper, introduced as the
complaining party to the appeal.
