What was determined in Moore v. Texas regarding defendants with intellectual disabilities?

Gear up for the TCOLE Important Case Law Test. Study with interactive flashcards and multiple choice questions, with detailed hints and explanations to acing your exam!

In Moore v. Texas, the Supreme Court addressed the criteria used to assess intellectual disability in capital punishment cases. The ruling emphasized that the legal standards for determining whether a defendant has an intellectual disability should align with contemporary clinical standards rather than outdated criteria that do not accurately reflect modern understandings of intellectual disability. The court underscored the importance of a consistent and fair evaluation process, particularly in the context of imposing the death penalty, as individuals with intellectual disabilities cannot be executed under the Eighth Amendment.

This decision reaffirmed the necessity for clear standards to ensure that individuals who are genuinely intellectually disabled are protected from capital punishment, thereby establishing a framework to guide lower courts and legal practitioners in their evaluations. Thus, the correct answer highlights that specific standards were laid out for determining intellectual disability regarding capital sentencing, which directly impacts the legal treatment of defendants in such circumstances.

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