Federal Appeals Court Halts Georgia Execution

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals granted Warren Lee Hill a stay of execution while he was being prepared for lethal injection. There are questions regarding whether or not Hill is mentally disabled. In 2000, three experts testified in court agreeing that Hill wasn't mentally disabled. He is now mentally disabled (12 years later) according to all three experts who have reviewed the case again. The mystery surrounding his mental capability/capacity led to two of the three judges on the review panel to rule that further review is needed. The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2002 prevents executions of mentally disabled offenders because it is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court of Georgia and the state parole board both declined to stop the execution. If Hill in fact meets the criteria of mental disability, then the Feds saved the state of Georgia from committing an unconstitutional act of execution.