McCleskey v. Kemp
This page analyzes a single policy using structured scoring, historical evidence, source quality, and measurable outcomes.
Summary
The Supreme Court rejected an equal-protection and Eighth Amendment challenge to Georgia's death penalty despite statistical evidence of racial disparities, requiring proof of intentional discrimination in the individual case.
How to Read This Record
Impact Reading
Very high documented impact
Evidence Base
Limited evidence from Archive sources.
Data Completeness
Needs Review record with 1 source and 0 metrics.
Outcome Summary
The ruling made it substantially harder to use systemic statistical evidence to challenge racial disparities in criminal punishment.
Categories
Impact Scores
This score is a structured measure of how directly and materially this policy affected Black communities, weighted by evidence, durability, and equity. Harm offset reduces the total score.
Total Impact Score
28
Directness
5
How explicitly the policy targeted or affected Black communities.
Material Impact
4
The practical real-world effect on conditions, rights, or outcomes.
Evidence
5
Strength of sourcing and historical support for the assessment.
Durability
5
How lasting the effects of the policy were over time.
Equity
0
Whether the policy advanced fairness, inclusion, or equal access.
Harm Offset
0
Any offsetting harms, limitations, exclusions, or contradictory effects that reduce the total.
Scoring Notes: A major anti-equity precedent in criminal justice.
Metrics
No metrics added yet.
Suggested Relationships
These policies may be related based on shared categories, era, and proximity in time.
1978 • Court Case • Unknown party
Post Civil Rights Era • Mixed
Shared Categories: 2 • Year Distance: 9
1971 • Court Case • Unknown party
Post Civil Rights Era • Positive
Shared Categories: 2 • Year Distance: 16
2007 • Court Case • Unknown party
Post Civil Rights Era • Negative
Shared Categories: 2 • Year Distance: 20
1988 • Law • Republican Party
Contemporary Era • Negative
Shared Categories: 2 • Year Distance: 1
1986 • Law • Republican Party
Contemporary Era • Negative
Shared Categories: 2 • Year Distance: 1
1989 • Law • Democratic Party
Contemporary Era • Blocked
Shared Categories: 2 • Year Distance: 2
1994 • Law • Democratic Party
Contemporary Era • Mixed
Shared Categories: 2 • Year Distance: 7
1968 • Court Case • Unknown party
Civil Rights Era • Positive
Shared Categories: 2 • Year Distance: 19
Sources
McCleskey v. Kemp, 481 U.S. 279 (1987)
Justia • Archive
Published: Apr 22, 1987
Primary decision text mirror
View source