Summing Up An International Law Norm In One Sentence

This short sentence from the EU's amicus brief in Roper v. Simmons effectively summed up the consensus of the international community--that the United States kept poor company when it came to executing children:

"Since 1990, only eight countries reportedly executed children: Iran (8), Saudi Arabia (1), Nigeria (1), the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) (1), Yemen (1), Pakistan (3), China (1) and the United States (19)." Br. at 8-9.

The Court ultimately held that the practice of executing minors violated the Eight Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.