William Thompson, Appellant v. State of Florida, Appellee

Summary

The Florida Supreme Court held that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Hall v. Florida is retroactive and must govern William Thompson’s claim of intellectual disability, reversing the lower court’s denial and remanding for a new evidentiary hearing. The Court reasoned that reliance on the now‑invalid bright‑line IQ cutoff of 70 violated Atkins and that all three prongs of the disability test must be considered. Justice Canady dissented, arguing Hall should not apply retroactively. The majority’s decision restores Thompson’s opportunity to demonstrate that he is exempt from execution.