Supreme Court to Reassess Execution Eligibility for Intellectually Disabled Convicts

Wed Dec 10 2025 10:23:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Supreme Court will hear a significant case concerning convicted murderer Joseph Clifton Smith, who might have his death penalty reinstated despite claims of intellectual disability.

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments regarding Alabama's appeal to execute Joseph Clifton Smith, who has been on death row for over two decades and was previously deemed intellectually disabled by lower courts. This case raises critical questions about the validity of IQ tests in assessing disability, with implications for how states measure intelligence in capital punishment cases.

In a landmark hearing scheduled for Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will deliberate over a case that could have profound implications for individuals with intellectual disabilities facing the death penalty. At the heart of this matter is Joseph Clifton Smith, a 55-year-old man on Alabama's death row since his conviction for murder in 1997.

Smith's legal team argues that he is intellectually disabled, having undergone multiple IQ tests that produced scores ranging from 72 to 78. Under Alabama law, intellectual disability is defined as an IQ of 70 or below, combined with significant limitations in adaptive behavior formed before the age of 18. Lower courts have affirmed Smith's status as intellectually disabled, citing his struggles with basic reading and math skills.

The Supreme Court previously ruled in 2002 that executing individuals with intellectual disabilities is unconstitutional, yet states continue to grapple with how to define and assess such disabilities, particularly in borderline cases such as Smith's. Alabama's Attorney General, Steve Marshall, maintains that Smith has not conclusively proven that he meets the criteria for intellectual disability and criticizes the holistic assessment approach used by lower courts.

This case may establish important precedent regarding the treatment of IQ scores and additional evidence in assessing disability. Rights organizations have joined Smith’s defense, arguing that relying solely on IQ scores is insufficient and invalid. As the justices prepare for arguments, the discussion highlights the ongoing tension between state interests in administering capital punishment and the rights of those deemed disabled.

Smith was convicted of the brutal murder of Durk Van Dam, who was beaten to death with a hammer during a robbery. While a federal judge initially vacated Smith's death sentence in 2021, acknowledging the complexities surrounding his case, the upcoming Supreme Court hearing promises to revisit the standards and definitions surrounding intellectual disability in capital cases.