Today, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Hall v. Florida, where Florida death row inmate Freddie Lee Hall argues that it is unconstitutional for the State of Florida to use a specific IQ score (i.e., 70) as the basis for allowing execution of anyone whose intellectual capacity measures above that number. (Precedent does not use the phrase "lack of intellectual capacity," but instead "mental retardation" as a basis for denying capital punishment as it would be cruel and unusual punishment.) 

Read the transcript of the oral argument here.

For background on the case, check out our prior posts:

 U.S. Supreme Court Deciding Major Death Penalty Case Regarding Intellectual Ability and Capital Punishment: the Case of Freddie L. Hall

Florida Death Penalty Case Re Low IQ as Mitigating Factor in Death Penalty Case before USSCt: Will Florida Statute Be Found Unconstitutional?