Atkins v. Virginia

Daryl Renard Atkins (defendant) and an accomplice abducted, robbed, and forced Eric Nesbitt to withdraw cash at gunpoint before shooting him eight times, killing him. Atkins was convicted of capital murder. At sentencing, a forensic psychologist testified that Atkins had an IQ of 59 (mild intellectual disability), based on interviews, school and court records, and testing. Atkins was sentenced to death, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari to decide whether executing him would violate the Eighth Amendment.