In a surprising 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court spared death row inmate Joseph Smith by dismissing Hamm v. Smith, rejecting Alabama's attempt to execute intellectually disabled individuals. Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett joined the liberal justices, highlighting concerns over Alabama's legal arguments and preserving Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

• 01The Supreme Court's decision in Hamm v. Smith was unexpected, with Justices Kavanaugh and Barrett siding with the liberal justices.
• 02Joseph Smith's IQ scores ranged from 72 to 78, with a margin of error that brought one score down to 69, leading to a lower court's conclusion of intellectual disability.
• 03Alabama's legal representation failed to provide a coherent argument for how states should assess multiple IQ scores, leading to frustration among the justices.
• 04Justice Clarence Thomas argued in dissent that the Eighth Amendment does not prevent executing intellectually disabled individuals, suggesting a potential shift in constitutional interpretation.
• 05The dissenting justices hinted at the possibility of overturning existing protections against executing intellectually disabled defendants if clearer arguments are presented in the future.

This ruling temporarily protects intellectually disabled individuals from execution in Alabama and potentially sets a precedent for future cases.