Hamm v. Smith
| Hamm v. Smith | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Argued December 10, 2025 | |
| Full case name | John Q. Hamm, Commissioner, Alabama Department of Corrections v. Joseph Clifton Smith |
| Docket no. | 24-872 |
| Argument | Oral argument |
| Questions presented | |
| Whether and how courts may consider the cumulative effect of multiple IQ scores in assessing an Atkins claim | |
| Court membership | |
| |
Hamm v. Smith is a pending United States Supreme Court case regarding the impact of IQ scores on capital punishment.[1]
Background
Smith filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the death sentence, claiming to have an intellectual disability. Smith scored 75, 74, 72, 78, and 74 on five full-scale IQ tests.[2] Smith's claim was granted by the Southern District of Alabama which vacated the death sentence. The Eleventh Circuit affirmed the district's ruling.[3]
Supreme Court
The case first reached the Supreme Court in the 2024 term. In a per curiam opinion, the court summarily reversed and remanded the case without granting certiorari. Justices Thomas and Gorsuch wrote a dissent to the denial of certiorari.
During the 2025 term, the case was appealed again and the court granted certiorari while limiting the question to what the cumulative affects of IQ tests should be when evaluating an Atkins claim.
See also
References
- ^ Dwyer, Devin. "Supreme Court weighs role of IQ scores in debate over execution of disabled people". ABC News. Retrieved 2026-01-01.
- ^ "DECISION" (PDF). supremecourt.gov.
- ^ "Hamm v. Smith". Oyez.org.