Randa Abdelfattah

And then there was the most substantial comment from Samuel Livermore of New Hampshire.

The Eighth Amendment was ratified in December of 1791. And for the next century, that was about it. Until the Supreme Court gave it another look. That's coming up.

The Eighth Amendment was ratified in December of 1791. And for the next century, that was about it. Until the Supreme Court gave it another look. That's coming up.

The Eighth Amendment was ratified in December of 1791. And for the next century, that was about it. Until the Supreme Court gave it another look. That's coming up.

But there was something bigger buried in the Trope decision.

But there was something bigger buried in the Trope decision.

But there was something bigger buried in the Trope decision.

Here, the U.S. Supreme Court is committing to the idea that what we consider cruel and unusual not only does change, but that it should change, according to the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.

Here, the U.S. Supreme Court is committing to the idea that what we consider cruel and unusual not only does change, but that it should change, according to the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.

Here, the U.S. Supreme Court is committing to the idea that what we consider cruel and unusual not only does change, but that it should change, according to the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society.

But coming up... The political winds change.

But coming up... The political winds change.

But coming up... The political winds change.

On January 17, 1972, attorneys argued three cases before the Supreme Court known as Furman v. Georgia. In all of them, Black men — two from Georgia, one from Texas — had been sentenced to death.

On January 17, 1972, attorneys argued three cases before the Supreme Court known as Furman v. Georgia. In all of them, Black men — two from Georgia, one from Texas — had been sentenced to death.

On January 17, 1972, attorneys argued three cases before the Supreme Court known as Furman v. Georgia. In all of them, Black men — two from Georgia, one from Texas — had been sentenced to death.

When the Eighth Amendment was written, it didn't apply to Black people who were enslaved in the U.S. But a lot had changed. More amendments were passed, like the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery and the 14th Amendment that gave equal protection of the laws to all people in the U.S. And things were changing globally, too.

When the Eighth Amendment was written, it didn't apply to Black people who were enslaved in the U.S. But a lot had changed. More amendments were passed, like the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery and the 14th Amendment that gave equal protection of the laws to all people in the U.S. And things were changing globally, too.

When the Eighth Amendment was written, it didn't apply to Black people who were enslaved in the U.S. But a lot had changed. More amendments were passed, like the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery and the 14th Amendment that gave equal protection of the laws to all people in the U.S. And things were changing globally, too.

And civil rights activists were paying attention.