Good news in California! The California Supreme Court has unanimously held that you cannot strictly define "mental retardation" through a specific IQ standard. Instead, the Court found that an inmate can get a hearing to challenge his or her death sentence if a qualified expert supports the inmate's claim of retardation (or a "friend" of the inmate if the inmate is not competent).

30 of California's 640 death row inmates have previously claimed to be mentally retarded and ineligible for a death sentence/execution. Today's ruling opens the door for "dozens" more to make similar claims throughout their appeals process.

This is grand news.

Court Clears Way for Death Row Challenges for Retarded