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Supreme Court to Review Alabama's Death Row Disability Case

12/10/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Supreme Court will hear Alabama's appeal in the Joseph Clifton Smith case, a death row inmate.
Lower courts deemed Smith intellectually disabled, with IQ scores ranging from 72 to 78.
The 2002 ruling prohibits executing individuals with intellectual disability.
Alabama argues that Smith has not proven his disability.
The case could set a nationwide precedent on evaluating borderline intellectual disability claims.

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Story summary

The Supreme Court will hear Alabama's appeal in the Joseph Clifton Smith case, a death row inmate.
Lower courts deemed Smith intellectually disabled, with IQ scores ranging from 72 to 78.
The 2002 ruling prohibits executing individuals with intellectual disability.
Alabama argues that Smith has not proven his disability.
The case could set a nationwide precedent on evaluating borderline intellectual disability claims.