State ex rel. Johnny A. Johnson v. David Vandergriff

Summary

The Supreme Court of Missouri denied Johnny A. Johnson’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus and overruled his motion for a stay of execution as moot. The Court held that Johnson failed to meet the substantial threshold showing of insanity required by Panetti and Ford, that mental illness does not extend the Atkins prohibition, and that his claims were procedurally barred. The decision rests on established Missouri procedural standards and federal competency jurisprudence.