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Snapshot 10:Thu, Dec 11, 2025 6:13:35 PM GMT last edited by Mr Bot

Supreme Court Hears Alabama Death Row IQ Threshold Case

Supreme Court Hears Alabama Death Row IQ Threshold Case

Supreme Court Hears Alabama Death Row IQ Threshold Case
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Joseph Clinton Smith brutally murdered Durka Vanman Dam with a hammer duringfor a$140 robberyworth forof boots and tools worth $140, yetand now seekswants to escape justice by claiming intellectuallow disabilityIQ despitescores consistentlyexcuse scoringhis abovesavage Alabama'scrime. thresholdHe onscored fivebetween separate IQ tests ranging from 72 toand 78. Theon patternfive ofseparate decliningtests, IQconsistently scoresabove among death row inmates suggests coaching by defense lawyers to manipulate results, and SmithAlabama's consistentthreshold, scoresyet aboveliberal 70activists demonstratedemand heholistic possesses sufficient mental competence to face the consequences of his heinous crime. Allowing subjective clinical judgment tothat override objective test scores amounts to little more than trusting dueling expert witnesses andhelping openskillers game the door for any murderer smart enough to fail an IQ test to avoid executionsystem.

IntellectualAlabama disabilitywants cannotto beexecute determinedsomeone bywho a single number, as the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed in Atkins, Hall and Moore, requiring instead a comprehensive clinical assessment that includes adaptive functioning, educational records and developmental history. Smith was placed in special education as a child, scoredreads inat thea bottomfourth-grade fivelevel percentand onperforms IQmath testslike witha marginskindergartener. ofMultiple errorIQ placingscores himfalling atwithin orthe belowmargin 70,of anderror demonstratedfor severeintellectual deficitsdisability, incombined communication,with academicsdocumented andadaptive socialfunctioning skillsdeficits throughout his life., Alabama'sclearly rigidmeet IQthe cutoff ignores established medical standards fromthat the AmericanSupreme PsychologicalCourt Associationhas andrepeatedly risksaffirmed executingcannot peoplebe withreduced genuineto intellectuala disabilitiessingle in violation of the Eighth Amendmentnumber.


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All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0