WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments regarding a critical issue that may affect the future of execution standards for those deemed intellectually disabled.
The focus of the Supreme Court's attention is an appeal from Alabama aiming to execute Joseph Clifton Smith, who has been classified by lower federal courts as intellectually disabled and thus ineligible for capital punishment.
In the landmark 2002 decision, the Supreme Court ruled against executing intellectually disabled individuals.
Smith, 55, has spent nearly half his life on death row since being convicted in 1997 for the murder of a man he beat to death.
The central question in Smith's case revolves around his varying IQ test scores, all of which hover just above the threshold of 70, commonly recognized as indicative of intellectual disability. His tests revealed scores ranging from 72 to 78, while his legal team contends that his educational background—dropping out of school in the seventh grade and functioning at an elementary level—supports their case.
The Supreme Court has previously indicated in rulings from 2014 and 2017 that states should incorporate additional evidence concerning intellectual disability, given the potential inaccuracies in IQ testing.
Alabama's appeal follows lower courts confirming that Smith's situation warranted a comprehensive consideration of all pertinent evidence. However, the Supreme Court announced in June its intention to revisit Smith's case.
Alabama's Attorney General Steve Marshall argues that Smith has not adequately demonstrated an IQ of 70 or below and claims that the lower court's holistic assessment exceeds the boundaries set by Supreme Court precedents.
Supporters of Smith maintain that the evaluations conducted by the lower courts align with established legal standards, emphasizing that relying solely on IQ scores can lead to erroneous conclusions about intellectual disabilities. Disability rights organizations have rallied behind Smith, asserting that restrictive definitions based only on IQ testing are flawed.
Smith was convicted of murdering Durk Van Dam, who was found in his truck, having been brutally assaulted. In 2021, a federal judge vacated Smith's death sentence while recognizing the complexities involved in the case.
The Alabama law defines intellectual disability as having an IQ of 70 or below, significant deficits in daily living skills, and onset of these disabilities before the age of 18.
