Here's the test the Supreme Court established in 1972: > The "essential predicate" is "that a punishment must not by its severity be degrading to human dignity

Here's the test the Supreme Court established in 1972: > The "essential predicate" is "that a punishment must not by its severity be degrading to human dignity", especially torture. > "A severe punishment that is obviously inflicted in wholly arbitrary fashion." (Furman v. Georgia temporarily suspended capital punishment for this reason.) > "A severe punishment that is clearly and totally rejected throughout society." > "A severe punishment that is patently unnecessary."