WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court says states must look beyond an intelligence test score in borderline cases of mental disability to determine whether a death row inmate is eligible to be executed.
The justices said in a 5-4 ruling Tuesday that Florida cannot rely solely on an IQ score above 70 to bar an inmate from claiming mental disability. Justice Anthony Kennedy said for the court that IQ tests have a margin of error and that inmates whose scores fall within the margin must be allowed to present other evidence of mental disability.
A score of 70 is widely accepted as a marker of mental disability, but medical professionals say people who score as high as 75 can be considered intellectually disabled because of the test’s margin of error.
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So now tea partiers are exempt from the death penalty? Figures on a Roberts’ court.
This article doesn’t say which justices ruled on each side.
Edit: Never mind. I found the opinion elsewhere. Wow. We are one Anthony Kennedy away from being the biggest asshole country in the world. Stay classy, conservatives.
OK, do we all have to engage in the research?
Odd considering high court Justices with IQ’s around 75 do not speak from the bench…
I found it at SCOTUSblog. Here is a direct link:
http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/13pdf/12-10882_4f15.pdf