Supreme Court declines to hear Texas man's intellectual disability case in capital case

NPR reports that the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from Victor Saldaño, a Texas death row inmate with intellectual disability, meaning he is likely to be executed despite both defense and state experts agreeing he does not meet legal criteria for execution under established precedent. The article is bylined by Nina Totenberg, NPR's respected legal affairs correspondent, and reflects strong reporting practices typical of the outlet. Independent search results from Texas Tribune and Courthouse News corroborate the core facts and add significant context: notably, Texas prosecutors themselves joined Saldaño's request to allow him to present intellectual disability evidence to a state appellate court, underscoring the unusual alignment of both sides against the death sentence. The Supreme Court's refusal to review the case without explanation leaves the execution likely to proceed, raising questions about whether procedural issues may have prevented substantive review of the intellectual disability claim.