New tougher standard for competence to be executed:

"It is therefore error to derive from Ford, and the substantive standard for incompetency its opinions broadly identify, a strict test for competency that treats delusional beliefs as irrelevant once the prisoner is aware the State has identified
the link between his crime and the punishment to be
inflicted."


http://scotusblog.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/06-6407.pdf

Another one of those great SCOTUS opinions--and 5-4 to boot--where the inferior courts didn't do it right, but the Court will not explain how it should be done?

JAS

As I understand it, the SC didn't decide anything with regard to the Defendant's execution or his insanity... they just said the lower court should consider these issues rather than ignoring them on procedural grounds.