Read the list of sentences from the article.

1. To determine whether a punishment violates the Eighth Amendment, the Court asks whether the punishment is consistent with “contemporary standards of decency.”

2. Courts also examine whether the punishment is disproportionate to the offense.

3. These include preventing a dangerous individual from committing further crimes.

4. The Court rules that a trial judge may sentence a criminal defendant to death even if a jury has recommended a life sentence.

Which two sentences taken together provide the BEST evidence to support the idea that courts follow certain guidelines when considering criminal cases?

A. 1 and 2
B. 1 and 3
C. 2 and 4
D. 3 and 4

Adefendant charged with driving while intoxicated pleaded not guilty and insisted on a trial. right before the trial began, he fired his attorney and decided to defend himself. at one point during opening arguments, the defendant began to act like a cat, meowing and chasing an imaginary squirrel out of the courtroom. if no one else raises the issue of the defendant's competency to stand trial, what is the responsibility of the trial judge here? a) the trial judge has no responsibility, because the defendant decided to defend himself. b) the trial judge has no responsibility, because she cannot decide whether the defendant is competent to stand trial. c) the trial judge must raise the issue of competency, because the defendant is representinghimself. d) the trial judge must raise the issue of competency, because the constitution obligates her to do.