The death penalty was found to be unconstitutional in the case of Furman v. Georgia (1972) primarily because it was being applied in an arbitrary and discriminatory manner. The Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty violated the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment due to its inconsistent application. The Court found that racial and economic disparities existed in the administration of capital punishment, showing a lack of consistent standards and guidelines. The ruling did not declare the death penalty itself unconstitutional, but rather the manner in which it was being administered.
