intellectual disabilities

Bobby Moore, who spent 40 years on death row, granted parole

June 9, 2020July 1, 2020 Kristin intellectual disabilities, Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

Bobby Moore was removed from death row in December 2019 after years of legal wrangling and two reversals by the U.S. Supreme Court related to his intellectual disability, which made him ineligible for execution. Yesterday – 40 years after a Harris County jury sentenced him to death – he was granted parole by the Texas […]

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stays execution of Randall Mays

May 7, 2020May 7, 2020 Kristin intellectual disabilities, Stay of execution

On May 7, 2020, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) granted a stay of execution to Randall Mays and remanded his intellectual disability claim to the trial court for a review on the merits. Mays was set to be put to death on May 13, 2020. It was the third execution date he has […]

TCADP May 2020 Newsletter: COVID-19 continues to impact use of death penalty in Texas

May 4, 2020May 4, 2020 Kristin COVID-19, execution, intellectual disabilities, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, U.S. Supreme Court

This edition of our monthly newsletter addresses the continued impact of COVID-19 on use of the death penalty and prison conditions in Texas. It also includes updates on cases involving intellectual disability claims, federal executions, and use of the death penalty worldwide.

U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals stays execution of Dexter Johnson

August 15, 2019August 15, 2019 Kristin intellectual disabilities, Stay of execution, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has granted a stay of execution to Dexter Johnson, less than 24 hours before he was scheduled to be put to death, based on evidence of his intellectual disability. It is the second time in five months a federal court has intervened in this case and stopped Johnson’s execution.

U.S. Supreme Court finds Bobby Moore should be exempt from death penalty based on intellectual disability

February 19, 2019February 19, 2019 Kristin intellectual disabilities, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, U.S. Supreme Court

Today, February 19, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a per curiam decision in the case of Moore v. Texas, finding that Bobby James Moore is intellectually disabled and should be exempt from the death penalty. Moore has been on death row in Texas since 1980. This is the second time the Supreme Court has […]

One execution stayed, another execution date withdrawn

October 8, 2018October 8, 2018 Kristin intellectual disabilities, Stay of execution, Tarrant County

Late in the day on Friday, October 5, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) stayed the execution of Juan Segundo based on a claim of intellectual disability. He was scheduled to be put to death on Wednesday, October 10 for the rape and murder of 11-year-old Vanessa Villa in 1986 in Fort Worth. According to […]

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals refuses to exempt Bobby Moore from the death penalty

June 14, 2018 Kristin intellectual disabilities, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

Despite a groundswell of support from a broad coalition, as well as an acknowledgment of Bobby Moore’s intellectual disability by the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled last week that Moore should not be exempt from the death penalty.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals halts execution of Steven Long

August 22, 2017 Vanessa Akins Dallas, death penalty, intellectual disabilities, Stay of execution, Texas

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA) has stayed the execution of Steven Long to allow for further review of Long’s claims of intellectual disability. This marks the fourth case granted a stay by the CCA this year. Long was scheduled to be executed on August 30, 2017, for the assault and murder of 11-year-old Kaitlyn […]