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May 28, 2014

Supreme Court Strikes Down Florida Law Restricting Death Row Challenges for Mentally Disabled 
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The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a law that limited how death row
prisoners can prove they are mentally disabled. Federal law bans the
execution of the mentally impaired. The law said prisoners must have an
IQ below 70 before being allowed to present any additional evidence to
prove their case. In a 5-to-4 decision, the court ruled the law violates
the Eighth Amendment ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

 

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