A death sentence may not be imposed for the crime of rape. Decided June 29, 1977 (argued March 28, 1977). Opinion of the Court: Byron White → go there Dissenting: Burger. Applied: the Eighth Amendment → go there Applied: the Fourteenth Amendment → go there Topic: Capital punishment. Coker v. Georgia, 433 U.S. 584 (1977) was a United States Supreme Court decision which held that the death penalty for rape of an adult was grossly disproportionate and excessive punishment, and therefore unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Wiki link