Texas, the Law, and the "Lennie Standard"

The case of Moore v. Texas raises the question of whether the "Lennie Standard," named for and adopted from the character of Lennie in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, is appropriate for determining whether an intellectual disabled defendant can appropriately be held responsible for his or her acts. More here in a discussion from On the Media, here from NPR, and here from the New York Times.

Of Intellectual Disability and the Death Sentence

From the New York Times: In Moore v. Texas, No. 15-797, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the question of mental capacity and whether a defendant should be eligible for the death sentence if he or she has an I.Q. that is so low that s/he is essentially unable to function in society. This standard is named after the character of Lennie in John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.  

More about Lennie and the "Lennie Standard" below.

Carl Bailey, "He's Dumb as Hell, But He Ain't Crazy."

Julia Barton, Judging Steinbeck's Lennie. Life of the Law.

Dianna Wray, "Texas Uses 'Of Mice and Men Standards' To Execute Mentally Disabled  Man," Houston Press, January 29, 2015.