No. 25-5129

Byron Lewis Black v. Tennessee

Lower Court: Tennessee
Docketed: 2025-07-16
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
IFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: common-law-prohibition competency-to-execute cruel-unusual-punishment eighth-amendment ford-standard mental-incompetency
Key Terms:
Punishment JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (from Petition)

Whether a state may refuse to provide a process by which a state inmate may prove that he is not competent to be executed because he meets the common law standard for the protection of "idiots"?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a state may refuse to provide a process by which a state inmate may prove that he is not competent to be executed because he meets the common law standard for the protection of 'idiots'

Docket Entries

2025-08-04
Petition DENIED.
2025-08-04
Application (25A65) referred to the Court.
2025-08-04
Application (25A65) for stay of execution of sentence of death presented to Justice Kavanaugh and by him referred to the Court is denied. The petition for a writ of certiorari is denied.
2025-07-21
Reply of Byron Black submitted.
2025-07-21
Reply of petitioner Byron Black filed.
2025-07-18
Brief of State of Tennessee in opposition submitted.
2025-07-18
Brief of respondent Tennessee in opposition filed.
2025-07-15
2025-07-15
Application (25A65) for a stay of execution of sentence of death, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.

Attorneys

Byron Black
Kelley Jane HenryFPD, Middle District of Tennessee, Petitioner
State of Tennessee
Nicholas White SpanglerOffice of Tennessee Attorney General, Respondent