npr.org 1 months ago URGENCY: 7/10
Supreme Court Denies Appeal in Texas Death Penalty Case
The Supreme Court has declined to hear the case of Victor Saldaño, a Texas man deemed intellectually disabled. This decision raises significant questions about the death penalty and intellectual disability criteria in the U.S.
Supreme Court's Controversial Decision
In a recent ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to intervene in the execution of Victor Saldaño, a man convicted of murder in Texas in 1996. Despite overwhelming evidence from both defense and state experts indicating Saldaño's intellectual disability, the court's decision means he is likely to face execution.
Saldaño's case highlights critical issues surrounding the death penalty and mental health. Key points include:
- Saldaño was convicted during a robbery gone wrong.
- His initial legal team failed to present his intellectual disability during the trial.
- Experts determined his IQ was 74, qualifying him for protection under the law.
- The Texas Office of Capital Forensic Writs supports his claim of intellectual disability.