Diverse coalition opposes execution of mentally ill convict in Texas
Death penalty opponents, conservative Republican judges, mental health organizations, and Ron Paul have all asked Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) and the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole to grant clemency for Scott Panetti, a mentally ill convict scheduled to die Wednesday.
Coalition notwithstanding, Panetti's fate now appears to rest in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, as the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole voted 7-0 against recommending clemency. Panetti was first diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1978, and was convicted of capital murder after he shaved his head, put on fatigues, and shot his second wife's parents in 1992 while in a psychotic rage, Mother Jones reports. During his trial, Panetti represented himself, wearing a purple cowboy suit to court. He applied for subpoenas for JFK and Jesus Christ, and blamed the murders on his alter ego, Sergeant Iron Horse.
Even Panetti's ex-wife is asking that he not be put to death as he is "deeply sick." Panetti's lawyers have asked the high court to review his case to see if putting a mentally ill person to death violates the Eighth Amendment. They also say that Panetti — who is said to believe there is a listening device inside of his tooth — hasn't had a mental competency hearing in seven years. If he is put to death, Panetti will be the 11th inmate executed in Texas during 2014.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Judge blocks Louisiana 10 Commandments law
Speed Read U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled that a law ordering schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas court allows execution in shaken baby syndrome case
Under the radar The state could be the first to carry out the death penalty for someone convicted due to the diagnosis, despite its controversial applicability
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
ATF finalizes rule to close 'gun show loophole'
Speed Read Biden moves to expand background checks for gun buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hong Kong passes tough new security law
Speed Read It will allow the government to further suppress all forms of dissent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
France enshrines abortion rights in constitution
speed read It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas executes man despite contested evidence
Speed Read Texas rejected calls for a rehearing of Ivan Cantu's case amid recanted testimony and allegations of suppressed exculpatory evidence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court wary of state social media regulations
Speed Read A majority of justices appeared skeptical that Texas and Florida were lawfully protecting the free speech rights of users
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Greece legalizes same-sex marriage
Speed Read Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian country to enshrine marriage equality in law
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published