<Tr> <Td> 1977 </Td> <Td> Coker v. Georgia </Td> <Td> The death penalty is an unconstitutional punishment for rape of an adult woman when the victim is not killed . </Td> <Td> 6 - 3 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1978 </Td> <Td> Lockett v. Ohio </Td> <Td> Sentencing authorities must have the discretion to consider every possible mitigating factor, rather than being limited to a specific list of factors . </Td> <Td> 6 - 2 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1980 </Td> <Td> Beck v. Alabama </Td> <Td> Jury must be allowed to consider lesser included offense, not just capital offense or acquittal . </Td> <Td> 7 - 2 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1980 </Td> <Td> Godfrey v Georgia </Td> <Td> Murder must involve a narrow and precise aggravating factor to be punishable by death . </Td> <Td> 6 - 3 </Td> </Tr>

Supreme court cases dealing with cruel and unusual punishment