### [2026-05-21](/feed/2026/05/21/index.md)

##### Capital punishment in the United States
# The U.S. Supreme Court dismisses an appeal by the state of Alabama challenging a lower court decision to block the execution of Joseph Clifton Smith, an intellectually disabled man convicted of a 1997 murder. The court says that executing Smith would violate his constitutional rights. 




### Sources:

1. [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/21/supreme-court-hamm-v-smith-death-penalty-intellectual-disability)

### Changes:

1. The U.S. Supreme Court dimisses an appeal by the state of Alabama challenging a lower court decision to block the execution of Joseph Clifton Smith, an intellectually disabled man convicted of a 1997 murder. The court says that executing Smith would violate his constitutional rights.  _2026-05-22 01:37:06 (First version)_
1. The U.S. Supreme Court dismisses an appeal by the state of Alabama challenging a lower court decision to block the execution of Joseph Clifton Smith, an intellectually disabled man convicted of a 1997 murder. The court says that executing Smith would violate his constitutional rights.  _(Current version)_

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