Death Penalty
Texas Stays Execution to Investigate Possibility of Mental Retardation
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stayed the execution of Allen Bridgers to allow for the trial court in Smith County to properly address the possibility that Bridgers is mentally handicapped. Bridger's lawyer, Kenneth Nash, believes that old intelligence tests and expert testimony will show that Bridger suffers from mental retardation.
The U.S. Supreme Court decision Atkins v. Virginia ruled that it was unconstitutional to execute those suffering from mental retardation. The definition of exactly what qualifies as mental retardation differs from state to state, although generally the requirement is that the person must have an I.Q of less than 70, and this must have developed before the age of 18. At present Texas has failed to produce its own definition of mental retardation.
For more on the case of Allen Bridgers, read "Texas court delays inmate's execution"
To find out more about the debate on mental illness and the death penalty, have a look at "Execution of the mentally ill"
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