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May 29, 2014

Supreme Court Ruling on IQ Guidelines Could Stop Up to 20 Executions 
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A Supreme Court ruling striking down death row guidelines in Florida
could halt scores of executions nationwide. The decision this week
overturned a Florida law that limited how death row prisoners can prove
they are mentally disabled. The law said prisoners must have an IQ below
70 before being allowed to present any additional evidence to prove
their case. That meant despite a federal barring execution of the
mentally disabled, a prisoner scoring just above the numerical threshold
would be eligible for death. The ruling will now force Florida and eight
other states to come up with new guidelines. The New York Times reports
up to 20 prisoners could be eligible for new hearings challenging their
death sentence.

 

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