Opinion ID: 1654600
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: whether the death sentence violates the united states constitution.

Text: ¶ 28. McGilberry argues that imposition of the death penalty for an offense committed when he was only 16 years of age constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. This issue was not raised at trial or on direct appeal and is now procedurally barred from consideration. Miss.Code Ann. § 99-39-21(1). Further, the United States Supreme Court has ruled only that no one under the age of sixteen may receive the death penalty without violating that person's Eighth Amendment rights. Thompson v. Oklahoma, 487 U.S. 815, 108 S.Ct. 2687, 101 L.Ed.2d 702 (1988). This issue is without merit.