Texas Appeals Court Holds Off On Execution For Mentally Ill Man

Less than 12 hours before the state of Texas executed death row inmate Scott Panetti, an appeals court issued a stay Wednesday morning. This judgment will allow Panetti's lawyers to argue once more on the unconstitutionality of the death penalty in their client’s case. Panetti has a long, documented history with mental illness. His lawyers are urging the Supreme Court to once and for all rule on the constitutionality of the death penalty for the mentally ill. The precedent set by a potential ruling would change how mentally handicapped individuals would be sentenced for capital crimes.   Here is a link to a CBS news article reporting on this case.