The Antidiscrimination Eighth Amendment

Abstract

Disengaged from history and context, the words "nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted" may be read in a range of ways. For example, they may be read to condemn vicious methods of punishment that have not been used before or have fallen into disuse, or punishments that appear excessive when compared with what other jurisdictions impose for like offenses, or punishments that are invidiously discriminatory. In the English language, the words "nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted" are susceptible of all these interpretations. The context in which the phrase "nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted" appears is a provision that also condemns excessive bail and excessive fines. And history reveals that the provision's combination of condemnations was designed and understood to prevent invidiously discriminatory punishment.

Keywords: constitutional law, cruel and unusual punishment, excessive punishment, discriminatory punichments, Consitutional interpretation, Eighth Amendment

JEL Classification: K00, K19