The weight of the evidence showing that Robinson was a drug addict simultaneously shows that he used drugs often. As a result, the defendant’s conviction was not wrongfully based on his status as an addict. The conviction was instead based on the defendant’s regular use of drug, which occurred before his arrest.
The trial judge instructed the jury that Robinson could be convicted regardless of whether or not he was in possession of drugs. After Robinson was convicted, he appealed, claiming that the state statute violated both the Eighth and 14th Amendment.
Case summary for Robinson v. California: Robinson was a drug addict who was convicted under a California state statute which criminalized being addicted to drugs. The trial judge instructed the jury that Robinson could be convicted regardless of whether or not he was in possession of drugs.
The Court held that the statute, which could punish a person based solely on drug addiction, was unconstitutional under the Eighth and 14th Amendment because it punished people based on their sickness as opposed to a criminal act. ...
California: Robinson was a drug addict who was convicted under a California state statute which criminalized being addicted to drugs. The trial judge instructed the jury that Robinson could be convicted regardless of whether or not he was in possession of drugs.