Nov 4, 04:16 PM

Supreme Court Orders Re-Examination of Joseph Clifton Smith's Intellectual Disability Case

The US Supreme Court has vacated a federal appeals court decision that had blocked the execution of Joseph Clifton Smith, a death row inmate in Alabama, due to his intellectual disability. Smith was convicted for the 1997 murder of Durk Van Dam. The Supreme Court has ordered the lower court to re-examine the case and issue a clearer ruling after reviewing multiple IQ scores. This decision comes amidst broader discussions on the limits of the death penalty for intellectually disabled individuals, with over a dozen states supporting Alabama's appeal, arguing that protections against cruel and unusual punishment have eroded their ability to address crime.