SC Supreme Court Justices Question Death Row Inmate's IQ Test Results

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The South Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments on whether death row inmate Bayan Aleksey, convicted of killing a state trooper in 1997, should be exempt from execution due to an intellectual disability. Justices questioned whether Aleksey may have deliberately skewed his IQ test results lower over the years in an effort to avoid the death penalty, as his scores have dropped significantly since childhood despite no formal diagnosis.

Why it matters

This case highlights the complex legal and ethical issues surrounding the execution of inmates with intellectual disabilities. The Supreme Court has ruled that executing those with such disabilities is unconstitutional, but determining who qualifies can be challenging, especially when there are questions about the validity of IQ tests.

The details

Aleksey was sentenced to death in 1998 for killing Sgt. Franklin Lingard during a traffic stop. His attorneys argued he should be exempt from execution due to an intellectual disability, citing his low IQ scores over the past 20 years of appeals. However, the state questioned whether Aleksey may have intentionally performed poorly on the tests to appear less competent. Justices noted the discrepancy between Aleksey's average intelligence as a child and his much lower scores as an adult, suggesting he could have been trying to game the system.

• Aleksey was sentenced to death in September 1998 for the 1997 killing of Sgt. Franklin Lingard.
• Aleksey's case has been in the appeals process for 27 years.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The South Carolina Supreme Court will decide whether to overturn the lower court's decision, send the case back for reconsideration, or uphold the judge's ruling. Regardless, the case is almost certain to continue through the appeals process for years to come.