Supreme Court Hears Texas Inmate's Disability Claim

The Supreme Court heard arguments over whether Texas death row inmate Dexter Johnson may file a second federal appeal arguing that updated standards for diagnosing intellectual disability make him ineligible for execution. Johnson says the DSM-5’s broader criteria, later adopted by Texas, made his claim viable after his first appeal; Texas argues that the constitutional rule barring execution of intellectually disabled people already existed and that changing medical standards do not create a new rule of law. The justices appeared concerned that allowing the case to proceed could invite repeated death-penalty challenges as psychiatric standards evolve. A ruling will determine whether Johnson can pursue another habeas review, not whether he is intellectually disabled or may ultimately be executed.