What key issue did the Supreme Court address in Furman v. Georgia?

The Supreme Court addressed a significant issue regarding the inconsistency in the application of the death penalty in Furman v. Georgia. The ruling in this landmark case underscored the arbitrary nature of the death penalty as it was being administered at the time. The Court's decision hinged on the fact that the death penalty was often imposed in a capricious and discriminatory manner, thus violating the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment.

The justices expressed concern that the way the death penalty was applied lacked uniformity, which led to the conclusion that it could not be justified as a fair form of punishment. This ruling prompted states to reevaluate their capital punishment laws to ensure more consistent standards were created, ultimately shaping modern death penalty statutes and their implementation. The focus on how the death penalty was applied emphasized the need for greater fairness and equality in legal practices surrounding capital punishment, making this aspect the central issue in the Court's decision.