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Supreme Court Rejects Appeal of Alabama Death-Row Inmate

5/22/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Joseph Clifton Smith’s appeal, leaving the Alabama death-row inmate’s case unresolved.
Smith’s IQ scores ranged from 72 to 78, just above the 70 threshold for intellectual disability.
Lower federal courts ruled Smith intellectually disabled, citing his learning-disabled class background and elementary-level academic skills.
A majority of three liberal justices, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, dismissed the case, while four conservative justices dissented.

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Story summary

The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Joseph Clifton Smith’s appeal, leaving the Alabama death-row inmate’s case unresolved.
Smith’s IQ scores ranged from 72 to 78, just above the 70 threshold for intellectual disability.
Lower federal courts ruled Smith intellectually disabled, citing his learning-disabled class background and elementary-level academic skills.
A majority of three liberal justices, Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, dismissed the case, while four conservative justices dissented.