[Sarah Michelle Gellar](http://glamour.com/about/sarah-michelle-gellar) and [Roma Downey](http://glamour.com/about/roma-downey) played kid/adult Jackie respectively in the Emmy-winning miniseries *A Woman Named Jackie*.
The Eighth Amendment (Amendment VIII) to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights (ratified December 15, 1791) prohibiting the federal government from imposing excessive bail, excessive fines, or cruel and unusual punishments, including torture.he Supreme Court found these laws to be unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment, in the murder case of Woodson v. North Carolina, 428 U.S. 280 (1976), because these laws remove discretion from the trial judge to make an individualized determination in each case.
However, there are several constitutional principles that protect defendants from excessively harsh or unusual punishments. Most of these limitations on criminal sentencing can be found in the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.The 8th Amendment states that in a criminal case: 1  Excessive bail shall not be required. 2  Excessive fines shall not be imposed.3  Cruel and unusual punishment shall not be inflicted.owever, there are several constitutional principles that protect defendants from excessively harsh or unusual punishments. Most of these limitations on criminal sentencing can be found in the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.