US Supreme Court to review death penalty IQ rule
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.More than a decade after the Supreme Court ruled that the states that practice the death penalty should spare the mentally impaired, the justices will take up a case that may lead to a clearer defining of who falls into the category and who does not.
The justices will consider the case of Freddie Lee Hall, who is to be executed in Florida. Hall has an IQ of 71, and under state law a person who scores over 70 is not considered mentally impaired and is therefore fit for execution.
Addressing the issue in 2002, the Supreme Court said “death is not a suitable punishment for a mentally retarded criminal”. It left it “to the State[s] the task of developing appropriate ways to enforce” the restriction. Opponents of the death penalty hope the Court will set a clearer benchmark that may lead to fewer executions.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments