Atkins ruling

Full Definition

The 2002 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Atkins v. Virginia that ruled executing individuals with intellectual disability violates the Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The ruling requires states to develop procedures for determining intellectual disability in capital cases, typically involving assessment of intellectual functioning, adaptive behavior deficits, and onset before age 18. This has created significant demand for forensic psychological evaluations in death penalty cases.

Usage

Usage note: Often referenced as 'Atkins' without the full case citation in forensic contexts.

In Context

• "The defense filed an Atkins motion requesting intellectual disability evaluation before trial." — Capital case filing
• "Post-Atkins litigation has focused on defining intellectual disability criteria for death penalty cases." — Legal scholarship