Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Atkins MR/ID death penalty court decisions: Richardson v Branker (NC, 2012) and Hearn v Thaler (TX, 2012)

Thanks (again) to Kevin Foley for sending two more recent Atkins decsions.

Richardson v Branker (NC, 2012)

Hearn v Thaler (TX, 2012)

Of interest in the Hearn case is that he had two IQ scores (88, 93) well above the bright-line cut score of 70. Hearn's defense tried to argue for a more expansive definition of mental retardation based on neuropsychological testing and a diagnosis of fetal alchohol syndrome (FAS). Hearn's prior 2010 decision is also available.

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