Supreme Court to Review Case of Intellectually Disabled Death Row Inmate

Wed Dec 10 2025 09:57:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Supreme Court will hear Alabama's appeal in the case of Joseph Clifton Smith, a man on death row whose intellectual disability is under scrutiny, potentially reshaping the standards for executing such individuals.

The Supreme Court is set to hear appeals regarding Joseph Clifton Smith, who has been on death row for nearly three decades due to a conviction for murder. The case examines what constitutes intellectual disability in light of varying IQ scores and the implications for execution eligibility. Smith's defense argues for a holistic assessment of his situation, while Alabama insists he does not meet the necessary criteria. This decision could set new precedents for future cases involving intellectual disabilities.

Officials at the Supreme Court are gearing up to hear arguments involving Alabama's attempt to execute Joseph Clifton Smith, a man diagnosed with intellectual disabilities. Smith's case raises vital questions regarding how such disabilities are evaluated within the legal system, particularly when baseline IQ scores hover around the threshold.

Smith, 55, has spent a significant part of his life on death row after being convicted of murder for a 1997 crime where Durk Van Dam was beaten to death. The murder involved a brutal execution method, complicating the moral and judicial implications of his potential execution.

Historically, in a landmark ruling from 2002, the Supreme Court declared that individuals who are intellectually disabled cannot be executed. This current case draws back to that precedent, considering how states should approach evaluations of intelligence and disability, especially for those like Smith who possess borderline IQ scores.

In Smith's instance, his IQ has been tested multiple times, yielding scores from 72 to 78. Despite his lawyers contending that he is indeed intellectually impaired, Alabama argues that these scores should place him outside of the protected category, and have challenged lower courts' decisions that found otherwise.

Legal experts suggest this upcoming Supreme Court ruling could impact future disability cases in criminal justice, potentially reshaping how intelligence is measured against the backdrop of societal norms and statutory definitions. Smith's fate now hinges on how the justices interpret existing laws surrounding intellectual disability.

Amid this debate, rights groups supporting Smith assert that the use of strict IQ cutoffs to determine intellectual disability could lead to numerous invalid and faulty judgments, arguing for a more comprehensive view that includes multiple facets of an individual’s capabilities.

The broader implications of the ruling will be felt far and wide, impacting not only judicial processes involving capital punishment but also the rights and recognitions afforded to individuals diagnosed with intellectual disabilities throughout the country.