Supreme Court to Review Case Affecting Execution of Intellectually Disabled

Wed Dec 10 2025 10:53:33 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Supreme Court will hear an important case on whether Alabama can execute Joseph Clifton Smith, a man deemed intellectually disabled due to borderline IQ scores, challenging the criteria for assessing intellectual disability in death penalty cases.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments concerning Joseph Clifton Smith, a convicted murderer from Alabama. His case raises significant questions about how states assess intellectual disability when determining eligibility for the death penalty, especially in cases where IQ scores hover around the accepted threshold. Smith's attorneys argue for a comprehensive evaluation of his cognitive ability, a point contested by the state, which seeks to execute him despite his diagnosed intellectual disability.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday in a pivotal case that could alter the landscape for how intellectually disabled individuals are treated in capital punishment cases.

At the heart of this case is Joseph Clifton Smith, a 55-year-old man on Alabama's death row for the 1997 killing of Durk Van Dam. Smith's fate hinges on conflicting evaluations of his intellectual disability, with tests revealing IQ scores from 72 to 78, just above the 70 threshold typically used to define intellectual incapacity.

In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled that executing intellectually disabled individuals is unconstitutional, and subsequent decisions emphasized a comprehensive view of disability that extends beyond IQ scores alone. Advocates argue that Smith's educational background and his cognitive abilities demonstrate significant deficits that should exempt him from execution.

Alabama's Attorney General has countered that Smith has not proven his IQ is low enough to qualify for protection under the law, stating that the discussion surrounding the use of a 'holistic' approach to assess Smith's disability is unwarranted and potentially misinterprets previous Supreme Court rulings.

As organizations advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities have rallied behind Smith, outlining the fallibility of strict IQ assessments, the justices will deliberate on how to balance these evolving definitions with the requirements of state law that deem an IQ above 70 as valid.

The court's decision in Smith's case could set new precedents affecting similar cases nationwide, shaping the future of capital punishment for individuals asserting intellectual disabilities.