FI LED U.S. COURT OF APPEALS ELEV ENT H CI RCUI T J AN 30, 2 009 T HOMAS K . KAHN CLERK [PUBLIS H] IN THE UN ITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ELE VENTH CIRCUIT

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ No. 0 6- 16 02 6

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ D. C. Dock etNo. 0 3- 01 32 3- CV-RB P-HGD GLENN W ILLIAM HOLLADAY, Pet it io ne r-Ap pe ll ee, ve rs us RICHAR D F. ALLEN, Comm is si on er, Alab am a Dep art m en t o f Co rrec ti on s, Res po nd en t-Ap pe ll an t.

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ App eal fro m

th e Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co urt fo r th e North ernDis tri ctof Al ab am a

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ (J anua ry 30 , 20 09 ) Befo re TJ OFLAT, AN DERSON an d M ARCUS, Ci rcu itJu dg es . ANDERSON, Circ ui t J ud ge : Glen n Ho ll ad ay

ap pe ars be fo re thi s C ou rt f or th e th irdti m e. Thi s t im e, ho wev er, h e ap pe ars as t he App el le e. In20 00 , we affi rm edth e d is tri ctco urt’s de ni al of h is pe ti ti on forwritof h ab eas co rp us , see Hol la da y v. Hal ey , 20 9 F .3d12 43 (11 th Cir . 20 00 ), reject in g c la im s o f in effe ct iv e as si st an ce o f co un se l. Nex t,

Hol la da y ap pe al edto th is co urt fo r pe rm is si on to fil e a s eco ndhabe as pe ti ti on an d st ay of e xe cu ti on , inli gh t o f th e Supr em e Co urt’s d eci si onin Atk in s v . Virg in ia , 53 6 U.S. 3 04 , 12 2 S .Ct. 2 24 2 (2 00 2) , whi ch he lditun co ns ti tu ti on al to ex ecu te th e m en ta ll y ret ard ed . W e g ran te d Ho ll ad ay ’s reque st , st at in g t ha t we wer e n otho ld in g th atHol la da y

was m en ta ll y

ret ard ed : “ [r]ath er we s im pl y ho ldto da y

th atba se d o n th e fac ts pre se nt edan d the pro cedur al po stur e o f th is cas e p et it io ne r sh ou ldbe pe rm it te d t o fi le a se co ndpe ti ti on fora writof h ab eas co rp us on th e b as is of h is Atk in s cl ai m .” In re : Ho ll ad ay , 33 1 F .3d11 69 , 11 76 (11 th Cir . 20 03 ). Hol la da y pr ev ai le d i n t ha t s eco ndhabe as pe ti ti onwhen th e d is tri ctco urt fo un d tha t h e pr ov edby a prep on de ran ce o f th e ev id en ce tha t h e was m en ta ll y ret ard ed . Hol la da y v. Ca m pb el l, 4 63 F.Supp .2d13 24 (N.D. Ala. 20 06 ). Now the Sta te of Alab am a ap pe al s t hi s d eci si on of t he di st ric t co urt. 1

The district cour

t held that the State of Ala bama a ffirmatively

waived e x haustion 1 of this issue. See 28 U.S.C. §2254(b)(3) (“AState shall not be dee med to have w aived the exhaustion requirement or be estopped fr om relianc e upon the r equire ment unless the State, through counsel, e xpressly waived therequire ment.”). The district court also held that Holladay ’s pre sentation of this issue to the district court was not the subjec t of any proce dural bar. F or these r easons, a

nd beca use the issue wa s never

litigated in the state cour ts, the district court re solved the issue – af ter e videntiary

hearings f

irst before the mag istrate judg e and the n befor e the district judg e – ac cordingno defe renc e to any decision of the state cour ts. In this appea l, the State of Alaba ma asser ts no challeng e to the district cour t’s decisions with respe ct to exhaustion, procedura l bar, holdingof evide ntiary hearings in fe dera l court, or de fer ence . Acc ording ly , any

such cha lleng e is dee med aba ndoned, and w e proc eed to e ntertain the me rits of this iss ue on appe al ac cordingno defe renc e to any state cour

t decision on the issue. 2I. BACKGROUND

Hol la da y was c on vi ct edof c ap it al m ur de r an d s en te nc edto de ath o n J ul y 27 , 19 87 . The Al ab am a Co urt o f Cri m in al App eal s an d t he Alab am a Supr em e Co urt 2 affi rm edbo th hi s co nv ic ti on an d d eat h s en te nc e o n d ire ctap pe al . Hol la day v. St at e, 54 9 S o.2 d 1 22 (Ala . Cri m . App . 19 88 ), aff’d, Ex pa rte Hol la da y , 54 9 S o.2 d 13 5 (Al a. 19 89 ). The Un it edSta te s Supr em e Co urt d en ie d Ho ll ad ay ’s pet it io n fo r writof c ert io rari , Hol la da y v. Al ab am a, 49 3 U.S. 1 01 2, 1 10 S.Ct . 57 5 (1 98 9) , and hi s p et it io n fo r reh eari ng , Hol la da y v. Al ab am a, 49 3 U.S. 1 09 5, 1 10 S.Ct . 11 73 (1 99 0) . Nex t, Ho ll ad ay

fil edforpo st -co nv ic ti on rel ie f un de r Tem po rary Rul e 2 0 of 3 th e Alaba m a Ru le s o f Cri m in al Pro cedur e o n S ep te m be r 10 , 19 90 , andam en de d h is pe ti ti on on Apri l 2 4, 1 99 1. Anev id en ti ary he ari ng was h el d o n Ap ril 25 -2 7, 1 99 1, an d o n Dec em

be r 5, 1 99 1, the Ru le 20 co urt d en ie d t he pe ti ti on , fin di ng so m e o f th e cl ai m s p ro cedur al ly barre d a ndde te rm in in g t ha t the othe rs were m eri tl es s. Th e Alab am a Co urt o f Cri m in al App eal s af firm edth e d en ia l an d t he Alab am a Supr em e Co urt d en ie d h is pe ti ti on forwritof c ert io rari . Hol la da y v. St at e, 62 9 S o.2 d 6 73

The fa cts of the murde rs ca n be found in our pr evious opinion, Holladay v. Haley , 2 209 F.3d 1243 ( 11th Cir. 2000). Rule 20 has since be en fina liz ed as Rule 32 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal 3 Procedur e. 3(Ala . Cri m . App . 19 92 ), cert . den ie d, 6 29 So .2d67 3 (Al a. 19 93 ). The Un it ed

St at es Supr em e Co urt d en ie d h is pe ti ti on forwritof c ert io rari . Hol la day v. Alab am a, 51 0 U.S. 1 17 1, 1 14 S. Ct. 1 20 8 (1 99 4) . Hol la da y fil edhi s i ni ti al pe ti ti onforwritof h ab eas co rp us with t he di st ric t co urt i n 1 99 5 a nditwas d en ie d i n 1 99 8. We affi rm ed . Howev er, aft er the Supr em e Co urt, i n i ts 20 02 Atk in s d eci si on , ann ou nc edth e n ew ru le th atitwou ld be un co ns ti tu ti on al to ex ecu te so m eo ne who was m en ta ll y ret ard ed , we hel d t ha t th e ru le ha d b een m ad e ret ro act iv e to cas es onco ll at eral rev ie w by th e Supr em e Co urt. Ho ll ad ay , 33 1 F .3dat 1 17 2. Thu s we g ran te d Ho ll ad ay pe rm is si on to fil e a se co ndhabe as co rp us pe ti ti on . On rem an d, the m ag is tra te jud ge he ldan ev id en ti ary he ari ng ; h e h eardev id en ce fro m Hol la da y ’s bro th er, Dav idHol la da y ; hi s ch il dh oo d a cqua in tanc e, Hele n B ry an ; a f orm er d eat h ro w gu ard , Raym on d Fu qu a; an d Ho ll ad ay ’s ex- wife , Jac ki e Mo rg an ; the co urt-app oi nt edm en ta l h eal th ex pe rt, Dr. Ki m

be rly Acker so n; an d Ho ll ad ay ’s m en ta l h eal thex pe rt, Dr. Kare n Sal ek in . Dav idHol la day

was t he fir stto tes ti fy

an d h e rec ou nt eda ch il dh oo d o f watc hi ng hi s o ld er b ro th er s tru gg le with b as ic tas ks . Glen n Ho ll ad ay , Davi d te st ifi ed , cou ldno t re ad , cou ldno t wo rkas apa in te r, co ul d o nl y co okeg gs , and m os tl y ke ptto hi m se lf a s a c hi ld . Glen n c ou lddri ve a car b utus edlan dm ark s t o 4na vi ga te . The few jo bs th atGlen n h el d wer e m anua l l ab orpo si ti on s, an d e ve n i n

th os e, he co ul d n otalway s p erfo rm to th e sa ti sf

act io n o f hi s emplo y ers or c oworke rs . Nex t t o t es ti fy

was Hel enBry an , Hol la da y ’s form er n ei gh bo r an d c hi ld ho od acqua in tanc e (wh o was ten y ears y ou ng er tha n Ho ll ad ay ). She st at edth atHol la da y was sl ow an d wo ul d o fte n p la y with t he y ou ng er ch il dr enrathe r th anhi s p eers . She al so tes ti fie d t ha t s he witne ss edHol la da y run ni ng fro m

th e p ol ic e wit h abi g s m il e on hi s fa ce, as if i t wer e a g am e. Late r, sh e te st ifi ed , he s ta te d t o h er m ot he r an d he r th athe fel t m or e co m fo rtabl e in jail th anou t. Afte r Hel enBry an , Hol la da y cal le d R aym on d F uqua , who ha d g ua rd ed Hol la da y on de ath ro w forab ou t t eny ears . Fuquates ti fie d t ha t Ho ll ad ay is a fri en dl y bu t “ sl ow o r sp eci al ne ed s” in m at e, who ha s a f ew fri en ds . Hol la day

ha d be eneag er t o wo rkas arun ne r on de ath ro w bu t co m pl ai nt s fr om

ot he r in m at es ab ou t Ho ll ad ay ’s hygie ne en de d h is ass ig nm en t. Fu qu a te st ifi edth atHol la da y on ce ad m in is te redanen em a to hi m se lf a ndm ad e a l arg e m es s wh enhe fai le d t o reac h the to il etin ti m e. Fu qu a was st ru ckby the factth atHol la da y di d n otsee m em barras se d b y

th e si tu at io n a ndth atHol la da y was u nabl e to cle anup th e m es s, al th ou gh he was o th erwi se ab le to ke ep hi s ce ll cle an . Fin al ly, Fu qu a te st ifi edth at Hol la da y was adi ab et ic an d was ab le to adm in is te r bl oo d s ug ar t es ts to hi m se lf. 5The fin al no n- ex pe rt wi tn es s ca ll edwas Ho ll ad ay ’s form er wi fe, J ack ie

Mo rg an . Mor ga n t es ti fie d t ha t Ho ll ad ay co erce d h er i nt o m arri ag e th ro ug h t hr eat s to ki ll he r an d h er fa m il y ; tha t h e m arri edhe r m erel y fora pl ace t o s tay

an d h er ca r; th athe reg ul arl y

th reat en edan d b eathe r; t ha t h e co ul d p rin t, co okwhat ev er h e wan te d, an d u se th e p ho ne ; an d t ha t Ho ll ad ay m erel y st ol e an d d idno t wo rkdu rin g th ei r m arri ag e. Sh e al so tes ti fie d t ha t s he be li ev edhe ha d k il le d a no th er p ers on . Mo stof t he tes ti m on y

at the he ari ng cam e fro m th e two ex pe rt wi tn es se s, Drs. Kar enSal ek in an d Ki m be rly Ackers on . Dr. Sale ki n h adbe enhi redby Hol la da y to ev al ua te hi m

whi le Dr. Acke rs onha d b een ap po in te d b y th e m ag is tra te jud ge . Dr. Sal ek in tes ti fie d e xt en si ve ly abo uthe r le ng th y in te rv ie w with Ho ll ad ay , he r di sc us si on s wi th ot he rs who kn ew Hol la da y , andhe r rev ie w of t he reco rd . Dr. Sal ek in adm in is te redsev eral tes ts to Hol la da y , in cl ud in g the Sta nf or d- Bi ne t-5 IQ te st , whi ch sh e ch os e o ve r W ech sl er Adul t In te ll ig en ce Sc al e (“ WAIS”) b ecau se th e St an fo rd -Bi ne t h adbe enno rm ed(up da te d) m or e rec en tl y . She als o p refe rred 4 th e St an fo rd -Bi ne t b ecau se of t he th eo ret ic al ba si s upo n wh ic h i t i s b as edan d h er

Dr. Salekin e x plained that I Q score s have be en incr easingover time – the F ly nn 4 Effe ct – and so I Q tests must be rec alibrate d to refle ct the risingscore s. She stated that the WAI S was 15 year s past its norming cycle whic h results in elevated score s, while the StanfordBine t was normed in 2003. 6ex pe rie nc e as a si te co or di na to r fo r th e St an fo rd -Bi ne t-5 no rm al iz at io n. Th e o th er

te st s s he adm in is te redto Hol la da y were the Mi ni -Me nt al Sta tu s Ex am , whi ch is a ge ne ral ori en ta ti on in st ru m en t, an d t he W oo dc oc k- Jo hn so n t es t, wh ic h i s a t es t o f acad em ic subjec t m at te r. Add it io na ll y , sh e adm in is te redth e Sca le s o f In de pe nd en t Beh av io r Rev is edto Hol la da y ’s two bro th ers . This tes t m eas ur es th e ad ap ti ve fu nc ti on in g o f th e subjec t –in th is cas e Hol la da y – b y ask in g t ho se who ob se rv e hi m reg ul arl y ab ou t h is ab il it y

to fun ct io n i n t he ho m e, sc ho ol , em pl oym en t, an d co m m un ity . Dr. Sale ki n c on ced edth atitwas u no rth od ox to adm in is te r th e te stto th e b ro th ers ba se d upo n t he ir m em ory of Gl en n b efo re the ag e o f ei gh te en . In o th er wor ds , alt ho ug h t he tes t i s d es ig ne d t o b e ad m in is te redto pe rs on s wh o kno w th e subjec t (a ndno t the subjec t h im se lf) , th e te stis de si gn edto be adm in is te red co nt em po ran eo us ly, an d n otba se d o n m em or ie s o f th e subjec t’s ab il it ie s. Howev er, Dr. Sal ek in ex pl ai ne d h er d eci si on to us e th e te stth is way was b ecau se th e cri te riaform en ta l re ta rd at io n re qu ire s t he de fen dantto be m en ta ll y ret ard ed be fo re the ag e o f ei gh te en . It wo ul d b e in accu rat e to us e cu rren t o bs erv ers of Hol la da y be cau se hi s en vi ro nm en t i s s o re st ric te d t ha t o ne co ul d n otge t a p ro pe r br ead th of u nd ers ta nd in g o f hi s ab il it ie s. Inhe r pr ep arat io n, Dr. Sa le ki n s po ke to two of Ho ll ad ay ’s bro th ers , two of hi s s is te rs , fou r co rrec ti on al off ic ers , a pr is on ps y ch ol og is t, a p ris on nu rs e,

7Hol la da y ’s form er at to rn ey , on e o f Hol la da y ’s frie nd s, an d afel lo w dea th row

in m at e. Altho ug h s he att em pt edto tal k t o Ho ll ad ay ’s ex- wiv es , sh e co ul d n ot lo cat e o ne an d t he ot he r, Ja ck ie Mo rg an , refu se d t o s pe akto he r. Her in te rv ie ws with Ho ll ad ay

sp an ne d t wo fu ll da y s an d s ev eral ho ur s o n t he th ird . Bas edon he r ev al ua ti onof DHR r eco rd s, s ch oo l an d o th er re co rd s, 5 Hol la da y ’s tes t s co res , herin te rv ie ws wi th th os e who kn ow Ho ll ad ay an d h er in te rv ie w with Ho ll ad ay

hi m se lf, Dr. Sa le ki n d et erm in edth atHol la da y was m en ta ll y ret ard ed . She no te d t ha t o n t he IQ tes t tha t s he adm in is te red , Hol la da y ha d s co reda 58 . W

hi le all owi ng th athi s s co re wo ul d h av e n atur al ly decl in ed be cau se of h is ag e an d i nc arce rat io n, s he tes ti fie d t ha t i t was co ns is te ntwith h is pa stsco res , whi ch av erag edbe lo w th e th res ho ldform en ta l re ta rd at io n i n Al ab am a of 70 . She a ls o p oi nt edto hi s l ackof a dapt iv e fu nc ti on in g i n s ev eral area s: em pl oym en t, h eal th an d s afet y , sel f-d ire ct io n, s oc ia l an d i nt erp ers on al sk il ls , and educ at io n. Her i nf

orm at io n o n t he se subjec ts was g le an edfro m he r in te rv ie ws, the DHR reco rd s, an d tria l an d d ep os it io n t es ti m on y .

In her r eport, Dr . Salekin discussed the finding s of Dr. N orko and D r. F isher, a 5 psychiatrist and a

psycholog ist who testified that they thought Hollada

y was menta lly

reta rded duringthe Rule 20 proce eding s in support of his argument that he re ceive d ineffe ctive assistanc e of counse l. She did not, however, discuss the f indings of D r. Dixon, a psycholog ist who testified that he did not think that Holladay was menta lly

reta rded, be causeshe thought he did not administer prope r tests and be cause Dr. Dixon admitt ed in testimony that his evaluation wa s just to confirm that Hollada

y was not mentally

reta rded; such a

n admission, she testified, showed a bias. 8By

co nt ras t, Dr. Ack ers on tes ti fie d t ha t s he di d n otth in k t ha t Ho ll ad ay was m en ta ll y ret ard ed . In p rep ari ng he r rep ort, Dr. Ack ers on in te rv ie wedth ree l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cers ; Ho ll ad ay ’s form er wi fe, J ack ie Mo rg an ; an d J ack ie Mo rg an ’s so n, J erry. Dr. Acke rs on ’s im pr es si on of Ho ll ad ay

was qui te di ffer en t tha n Dr. Sal ek in ’s: Dr. Ack ers on fou ndhi m to be so ci al ly app ro pr ia te an d abl e to an swe r qu es ti on s ap pr op ria te ly. Afte r rev ie win g t he reco rd s an d m eet in g wi th hi m for ab ou t fi ve ho ur s, Dr. Ack ers on de te rm in edth atitwas n otne ces sary to adm in is te r anIQ tes t. Sh e te st ifi edth atsh e b el ie ve d t ha t the sco re wo ul d b e lo w bu t tha t s he th ou gh t i t was th e res ul t o f ot he r fac to rs , su chas alea rn in g d is ab il it y an d h is 6 ch ao ti c h om e li fe. Sh e d is co un te d h is adul t t es t s co res be cau se of t he lac k o f co ns is te nc y

in hi s s co res , whi ch sh e th ou gh t was no t re fle ct iv e o f a p ers onwith m en ta l re ta rd at io n. Dr. Ack ers onals o p oi nt edto Hol la da y ’s pl an ni ng an d c arrying ou t o f th e m

ur de rs an d abi li ty to el ud e la w enf or cem en t fo r se ve ral m on th s af te r th e m ur de rs as e vi de nc e o f hi s ad ap ti ve sk il ls th atwere i nc on si st en t wi th m en ta l

The re gulations for Public L aw ( P.L .) 101-476, the I ndividuals with Disabilit ies 6 Education Act (I DEA), f

ormerly P.L . 94-142, the Educ ation of the Ha ndicappe d Act (EH A), define a lea

rningdisability

as a “ disorder in one or more of the basic psy

cholog ical proc esses involved in understandingor in using spoke n or written languag e, which ma y manifest itself in an imperf ect a bility to list en, think, speak, r ead, write, spell or to do mathematical ca lculations.” 34 C.F.R. § 300.8 (c) (10)( i). Acc ordingto the reg ulations, learningdisabiliti es do not include lear ning pr oblems that are primarily the re sult of visual, hearing , or motor disabilities; mental reta rdation; or envir onmental,cultura l, or ec onomic disadvantag e. § 300.8 (c )(10) (ii). 9ret ard at io n. Si m il arl y , sh e ci te d i nc id en ts in th e DHR rec or ds to supp ort h er

op in io n t ha t h e h adad ap ti ve sk il ls as ach il d. The m ag is tra te jud ge cred it edDr. Acke rs on ’s tes ti m on y ov er Dr. Sal ek in ’s. The m ag is tra te jud ge fou ndth e rea so ns Dr. Acke rs on ga ve forHol la da y ’s cog ni ti ve de fic it s s ho wn o n t he IQ tes ts to be well -rea so ne d a ndbe tt er s up po rte d t ha n t ho se gi ve n b y Dr. Sale ki n. As pa rt o f th is an al y si s, Dr. Ack ers on po in te d t o t he lac k o f co ns is te nc y

on th e co m

po ne ntpa rts of t he IQ tes ts . Add it io na ll y , th e m ag is tra te jud ge fou ndDr. Sale ki n’s as se ss m en t o f Hol la da y ’s adapt iv e fu nc ti on in g i gn or ed th e ab il it ie s t ha t h e sh owe d, es pe ci al ly whe n h e was on th e ru n a fte r th e m ur de rs . Deta il in g the reco rd s o f hi s yout h, the m ag is tra te jud ge acce pt edDr. Acke rs on ’s vi ew th atHol la da y ’s pro bl em s i n s ch oo l an d l ow IQ s co res were m or e li nk edto hi s ch ao ti c h om el ife an d a nt i-s oc ia l p ers on al it y rathe r th anorg an ic m en ta l d efi ci ts . Ult im at el y , th e m ag is tra te jud ge co nc lu de d t ha t Ho ll ad ay ha d n otsh own by a pr ep on de ran ce o f th e ev id en ce tha t h e was m en ta ll y ret ard ed . Hol la da y ap pe al edth e m ag is tra te jud ge ’s reco m m en da ti on . The d is tri ct co urt h el d asupp le m en ta ry ev id en ti ary he ari ng in whi chhe he ardtes ti m on y fro m th e two ex pe rt wi tn es se s. Th e d is tri ctco urt as ke d e xt en si ve qu es ti on s ab ou t ce rta in te st im on y th e wit ne ss es ha d g iv enat the fir sthe ari ng an d p erm it te d que st io ns by th e p art ie s. 10Sev eral m on th s l at er, the di st ric t co urt i ss ue d i ts op in io n d is ag reei ng with t he

m ag is tra te jud ge an d fi nd in g t ha t Ho ll ad ay ha d s ho wn b y

a pr ep on de ran ce o f th e ev id en ce tha t h e was m en ta ll y ret ard ed . The co urt l is te d a ll of t he fact s t ha t supp orte d ade te rm in at io n t ha t Ho ll ad ay was re ta rd edan d t ho se th atsupp orte d t he op po si te fin di ng . It n ot edth atth ere was no real di sp ut e th atHol la da y ’s m en ta l de fic ie nc ie s b eg anbe fo re h e tu rn edeig ht een . Next , th e co urt ex am in edth e ev id en ce tha t Ho ll ad ay

ha d s ig ni fic an t l im it at io ns in in te ll ectua l fu nc ti on in g o r, in ot he r wor ds , a qu al ifyin gl y lo w IQ. This , th e co urt fo un d, Ho ll ad ay ha d m etby a pr ep on de ran ce o f th e ev id en ce b y pre se nt in g e le ve n t es t s co res who se m ean was di st in ct ly bel ow 7 0. Th e co urt cr it ic iz edDr. Acke rs on ’s app ro ach to ward s t he tes t res ul ts be cau se sh e reject edth ei r rel iabi li ty andy etdi d n ottes t Ho ll ad ay he rs el f. Turn in g t o a dapt iv e fu nc ti on in g, the co urt n ot edfir stth atbo th ex pe rts ag reedth atHol la day

ha d s ub st an ti al de fic ie nc ie s i n a cad em ic s. Th enth e co urt di sc us se d t he ev id en ce s up po rti ng it s fi nd in g t ha t Ho ll ad ay ha d s ub st an ti al ad ap ti ve de fic ie nc ie s i n wo rk , andst at edth atitwas s at is fie d t ha t Ho ll ad ay als o h ad pr ov edth athe ha d d efi ci en ci es in ot he r are as . The co urt al so ex pr es se d i ts di ss at is fact io n wi th Dr. Acke rs on ’s ana lysis of ad ap ti ve fun ct io ni ng . Dr. Acker so n h adtes ti fie d t ha t Ho ll ad ay ’s con di ti on co ul d be ex pl ai ne d b y

hi s h om e en vi ro nm en t an d t reat m en t ra th er than m en ta l 11ret ard at io n. Ho wev er, the co urt s ta te d, ac co rd in g t o t he li te ratur e, th es e th in gs are

no t m utua ll y ex cl us iv e. The t ox ic ho m e en vi ro nm en t co ul d h av e b een ev ena m or e da m ag in g t o o ne with m en ta l re ta rd at io n. Ho ll ad ay , he r eas on ed , has no t ad jus te d to so ci ety , andsu ffer edfro m si gn ifi can t d efi ci en ci es in ad ap ti ve be ha vi or , no t o nl y in fun ct io na l ac ad em ic s an d wo rkbu t al so in ot he r are as , in cl ud in g s oc ia l s ki ll s an d he al th an d s afet y . II. THE LE GAL STANDA RD In20 02 , th e Supr em e Co urt h el d t ha t ex ecu ti ng m en ta ll y ret ard edcap it al of fen de rs vi ol at edth e Eig ht h Am en dm en t. Atk in s v . Virg in ia , 53 6 U.S. 3 04 , 12 2 S. Ct . 22 42 (20 02 ). The C ou rt h el d t wo i m po rtantth in gs forou r cal cu lu s. Fi rs t, i t no te d t ha t “ cl in ic al de fin it io ns of m en ta l re ta rd at io n re qu ire no t o nl y suba ve rag e in te ll ectua l fu nc ti on in g, b utals o s ig ni fic an t l im it at io ns in ad ap ti ve sk il ls .” Id . at 31 8, 1 22 S. Ct. at22 50 . Seco nd , th e Co urt l eftto th e st at es th e d ev el op m en t o f st an da rd s fo r de te rm in in g wh enanoff en de r is m en ta ll y

ret ard ed . Id. at31 7, 1 22 S. Ct . at 2 25 0. Thu s, thi s co urt m us t ex am in e Alaba m a’s la w to de te rm in e it s st an da rd s. Be cau se th e Alaba m a le gi sl atur e h as no t en act edan y leg is la ti on ab ou t ho w to de te rm in e th is , we m us t ex am in e Alaba m a cas e la w. 7

In Smit h v. Alabama , __ So.2d __, 2007 W L1519869 (Ala. Ma y 25, 2007), the 7 Alabama Supreme Court re iterate d that the def inition of mentally

reta rded in the c apital context should be, but had not yet bee n, develope d by the leg islature. 12Turn in g t o Al ab am a la w, th e Alaba m a Supr em e Co urt h as de fin edth e te st

fo r m en ta l re ta rd at io n tha t ri se s t o t he lev el of p ro hi bi ti ng ex ecu ti on as h av in g t hr ee co m po ne nt s: (1) si gn ifi can tl y suba ve rag e in te ll ectua l fu nc ti on in g (i .e., an I Q of 7 0 orbe lo w); (2 ) si gn ifi can t o r subs ta nt ia l d efi ci ts in ad ap ti ve be ha vi or ; an d (3 ) th e m an ife st at io n o f th es e p ro bl em s dur in g t he de fen da nt ’s dev el op m en ta l p eri od(i.e ., be fo re the de fen da ntreac he d a ge eig ht een ). Sm it h v . Alab am a, __So .2d__ , 20 07 W L 15 19 86 9, at*8 (Ala . May 25 , 20 07 ) (n oty etrel eas edforpubl ic at io n) ; Ex Part e Perk in s, 8 51 So .2d45 3, 4 56 (Ala . 20 02 ). Acco rd in g t o l it eratur e inth e fi el d, si gn ifi can t o r subs ta nt ia l d efi ci ts in ad ap ti ve be ha vi orare d efi ne d a s “ co nc urren t de fic it s o r im

pa irments in pre se ntad ap ti ve fun ct io ni ng in at l eas t two o f th e fo ll owi ng sk il l ar eas : co m m un ic at io n, s el f-ca re, h om e li vi ng , so ci al /i nt erp ers on al sk il ls , us e o f co m

m un it y res ou rces , sel f-d ire ct io n, fu nc ti on al acad em ic sk il ls , work , le is ur e, he al th an d s afet y .” Am eri can Psychi atric Ass oc ia ti on , Diag no st ic an d St at is ti cal Man ua l o f Men ta l Di so rd ers , 39 (4t h e d. 1 99 4) . In o th er wo rd s, t o sa ti sf y th e se co ndpro ng of t he tes t, the ev al ua to r m us t fi ndth atth e d efen da ntha s de fic ie nc ie s i n t wo o f th os e li st edarea s. Tho ug h t he fact or s s ta te th atth e p ro bl em s h adto ha ve m an ife st ed th em se lv es be fo re the de fen da ntreac he d t he ag e o f ei gh te en , itis “ im pl ic it ” th atth e pr ob le m s al so ex is te d a t the ti m e o f th e cri m e. Sm it h, _ _ S o.2 d a t _

__ , sl ip at * 8. 13A di ag no si s o f bo rd erl in e in te ll ectua l fu nc ti on in g wi ll no t qua li fy forex em pt io n fro m th e d eat h p en al ty. Id. 8 W e rev ie w th e d is tri ctco urt’s fi nd in g t ha t Ho ll ad ay is m en ta ll y

ret ard edfor cl ear e rro r. Osb orne v. Terry , 46 6 F .3d12 98 , 13 04 (11 th Cir . 20 06 ); s ee al so Ri ve ra v . Quarte rm an , 50 5 F .3d34 9, 3 61 (5t h C ir. 2 00 7) (ap pl y in g t he cle arl y erro ne ou s s ta nd ardto a di stric t co urt d et erm in at io n t ha t the de fen da ntwas m en ta ll y ret ard ed ). “ Cl ear e rro r is a hi gh ly defer en ti al st an dardof r ev ie w.” Hol to n v . Cit y of Tho m as vi ll e Sch . Dis t., 4 25 F.3d13 25 , 13 50 (11 th Cir . 20 05 ). A factua l fi nd in g is cle arl y erro ne ou s “ ‘whe n a lt ho ug h t he re i s ev id en ce t o s up po rt i t, the rev ie win g co urt o n t he en ti re ev id en ce i s l eftwith t he de fin it e an d fi rm co nv ic ti on th ata m is ta ke ha s b een co m

m it te d.’” Id. (quo ti ng And ers onv. Ci ty of Bes se m er Ci ty, 47 0 U.S. 5 64 , 57 3, 1 05 S. Ct. 1 50 4, 1 51 1 (1 98 5) ). InAnd ers on , th e Supr em e Co urt ex pl ai ne d t ha t the cle ar erro r st an da rd pl ai nl y do es no t en ti tl e a rev ie win g c ou rt t o re ve rs e th e fi nd in g o f th e tri er o f fac t s im

pl y be cau se itis co nv in cedth atitwou ldha ve de ci de d th e cas e d iff

eren tl y . . . . In app lying th e cl earl y erro ne ou s s ta nd ardto th e fi nd in gs of adi stric t co urt s it ti ng witho uta jury, ap pe ll at e co urts Alabama ’s brief

on appea l indicated agree ment that the fore g oing sta ndard f or 8 deter mining mental r etar dation is the appropriate standa rd under Alabama caselaw. It was the standard utilized by

the district court; it is not challeng ed on appe al. Alabama does a rgue that cer tain Alabama

decisions (findingno mental re tardation on their fac ts) are controlling . Howeve r, weagree with the district court that the fa cts of those Ala bama c ases a

re suf ficiently differ ent from the instant fa cts that those dec isions do not i ndicate that the district court er red in this case. 14m

us t co ns ta nt ly hav e in m in d t ha t the ir f un ct io n i s n otto de ci de factua l i ss ue s d e n ov o. If th e d is tri ctco urt’s ac co un t o f th e ev id en ce i s pl au si bl e in li gh t o f th e rec or d v ie wedin it s en ti rety , th e co urt o f ap pe al s m ay

no t re ve rs e itev enth ou gh co nv in cedth atha d i t b een si tt in g a s t he tri er o f fac t, i t wo ul d h av e wei gh edth e ev id en ce di ffer en tl y . Whe re the re ar e two pe rm is si bl e v ie ws o f th e ev id en ce, the fact fin de r’s ch oi ce b etweenth em can no t b e cl earl y

erro ne ou s. And ers on , 47 0 U.S. at57 3- 74 , 10 5 S . Ct. at15 11 (in te rn al cit at io ns an d quo ta ti on m ark s o m it te d) . III. DISC USSION A. Sig ni fic an tl y

Suba ve rag e In te ll ectua l Fu nc ti on in g Hol la da y ha s b een adm in is te redIQ tes ts ten ti m es , st art in g wh enhe was n in e y ears ol d. In19 58 , when he was n in e, sc ho ol off ic ia ls adm in is te redth e Wechs le r In te ll ig en ce Sc al e fo r Ch il dr en(“ W ISC” ) to Hol la da y two ti m es . The fi rs t t im e, Hol la da y sco reda Verb al Sco re o f 62 an d aPerfo rm an ce Sc or e o f 44 , fora Fu ll Scal e IQ sc or e o f 49 . Twenty da y s l at er, Ho ll ad ay

was a dm in is te redth e te stag ai n an d t hi s t im e sc or eda 75 on th e Verb al Scal e p orti on an d a44 on th e Per fo rm an ce Scal e fo r a Fu ll Scal e IQ o f 56 . Hol la da y was a dm in is te redth e WISC on ce m or e, in 19 63 , when he was fo urte en , andth atti m e sc or eda 57 on Verb al Scal e an d 5 8 on th e Per fo rm an ce Sc al e, fo r a Fu ll Scal e IQ o f 54 . Onc e h e rea ch edni ne te en , he was adm in is te redth e adul t v ers io n o f th e te st , th e Wechl er Adul t In te ll ig en ce Sc al e (“ WAIS”). Onth is Marc h 1 96 9 t es t, 15Hol la da y

rece iv eda 66 , alt ho ug h t he reco rddo es no t co nt ai n t he sco res forth e in di vi du al co m

po ne nt s. Ab ou t s ix m on th s l at er, i n No ve m be r 19 69 , Hol la da y ag ai n t oo k a n IQ t es t, p res um ab ly the WAIS, an d t hi s t im e sc or eda 73 . Upo n rel eas e fro m

Cen tra l St at e Hos pi ta l i n Geo rg ia , wher e th es e te st s wer e adm in is te red , hi s d is ch arg e d ia gn os is was “ Mi ldm en ta l re tard at io n.” The s ta ff de em edhi m

in th e Dul l No rm al or B or de rli ne ran ge of i nt el li ge nc e b as edonth ei r be li ef tha t h e h adhe ldres po ns ib le job s an d s up po rte d h is fam il y an d b ecau se hi s be ha vi orwas “ no rm al .” Afte r a p eri odof n in e y ears witho uta te st , Hol la da y was adm in is te redth e WA IS i n 1 97 8, wh enhe was t wen ty-eig hty ears ol d. He s co reda 64 on th e Verb al Scal e an d a81 on th e Per fo rm an ce Sc al e fo r a Fu ll Scal e IQ o f 69 . In19 69 , a li tt le ov er a year lat er, Ho ll ad ay was a ga in adm in is te redth e WA IS an d th is ti m e sc or eda Fu ll Scal e IQ o f 72 , with a69 on th e Verb al Scal e an d a n 8 0 o n th e Per fo rm an ce Sc al e. At tha t t im e, th e ev al ua ti ng ps y ch ol og is t o pi ne d t ha t Hol la da y sh ou ldbe ev al ua te d fo r a l earn in g d is ab il it y bu t n o e va lu at io n was ev er pe rfo rm ed . Afte r hi s arres t fo r th e m

ur de rs , Hol la da y

was a dm in is te redpa rts of t he WAIS-R i n 1 98 7. Onth is he sco reda 69 on th e v erb al po rti on an d a75 on th e pe rfo rm an ce p artfora fu ll sca le of 7 1. His sco re d ecl in edin th e n ex t t es t i n 1 99 1, pr es um edto be th e WA IS-R , to 74 on th e Verb al Scal e an d 6 1 o n t he Perfo rm an ce 16Scal e, fo r a Fu ll Scal e IQ o f 65 . On h is las t t es t, the Stanf or d- Bi ne t In te ll ig en ce Scal e - 5 th Edi ti on , adm in is te redby D r. Sal ek in , Hol la da y sco reda 58 Fu ll Scal e with a61 on no nv erb al an d 5 8 o n v erb al . Dr. Acke rs on reject edall of t he res ul ts of t he IQ tes ts be cau se sh e n ot edth at th ey were n otco ns is te ntan d s he di d n otkn ow h ow t he y ha d b een adm in is te red . Loo ki ng at o ne of t he earl y tes ts th atHol la da y

to ok , Dr. Acker so n o bs erv edth at th e n ot es acco m

pa nyin g t hi s ad m in is tra ti on st at edth atHol la da y res po nd ed“ do n’t kn ow” oft en , whi ch co ul d a cco un t fo r th e lo wer t es t s co res . Mor eo ve r, sh e n ot ed th e li te ratur e st at es th atm en ta ll y ret ard edch il dr entypic al ly hav e h ig he r pe rfo rm an ce s co res th anve rb al sco res bu t Ho ll ad ay ’s ver ba l s co res were h ig he r. He al so pe rfo rm edlo wer o n t he subt es ts th atare i de nt ifi edas e as y forch il dr enwith m en ta l re ta rd at io n a ndbe tt er o n s ub te st s i de nt ifi edas d iff ic ul t fo r su ch ch il dr en . W it h re sp ectto th e Ma rch 19 69 IQ res ul t o f 66 , Dr. Acker so n n ot edth atth e ps y ch ol og is t’s d ia gn os is of M il d M en ta l Re ta rd at io n d idno t co m po rt wi thhi s co m m en ts th atHol la da y

was “ func ti on in g wel l wi th in th e Bo rd erl in e o r Dul l Norm al ran ge of i nt el li ge nc e” an d t ha t Ho ll ad ay was abl e to ho ldjob s, s up po rt h is fam il y , andhi s b eh av io r atth e h os pi ta l was no rm al . Dr. Acker so n o bs erv edth at 9

In this reg ard, D r. Salekin pointed out that the psycholog ist’s assumption that 9 Holladay was a ble to hold jobs and support his family was not borne out by

the re cord. 17ei gh t m on th s l at er, i n No ve m be r 19 69 , Hol la da y

was a dm in is te redan ot he r IQ te st , pr es um ab ly the WAIS, on whi ch hi s fu ll sco re was 73 . She no te d t ha t the in crea se in sco re co ul d h av e b een du e to th e p ract ic e eff ect ; s he op in edth atth e 7 3 h e rece iv edon th attes t was co ns is te ntwith t he 66 he ha d re cei ve d b efo re. Hol la da y ’s tes ts in 19 78 an d 1 97 9 wer e adm in is te redpu rs ua ntto a ro ut in e Alab am a Dep art m en t o f Co rrec ti on s d ia gn os ti c an d c la ss ifi cat io n p ro gr am . Dr. Ack ers onno te d t ha t d es pi te th e 6 9 Ho ll ad ay rece iv edon th e fi rs t t es t, the ev al ua to r’s ov eral l cl in ic al im pr es si on was t ha t Ho ll ad ay was fu nc ti on in g a t the Bo rd erl in e Me nt al ly Retar de d ra ng e. Sh e fu rth er re po rte d t ha t the ev al ua to r ha d op in edth atHol la da y ’s subt es t s co res su gg es te d c ul tural de pr iv at io n a ndorg an ic fact or s co nt rib ut edto hi s m en ta l re ta rd at io n. Ho ll ad ay was t he n p la ced , pu rs ua nt to th e ev al ua to r’s reco m

m en da ti on , ina “ supp orti ve bu t fi rm en vi ro nm en t wh ere h e can workat c on stru ct iv e ta sk s an d g ai n asen se of a ch ie ve m en t.” Ho wev er, a l it tl e ov er a year lat er, h e was ret es te d b ecau se of t he co nc ern s o f a co rrec ti on s o ffi cer th atHol la da y

was fu nc ti on in g m

uc h t oo well forth e se tt in g. Onth is tes t, Ho ll ad ay sc or eda 72 ; the ev al ua to r rec omm en de d tha t Ho ll ad ay un de rg o fu rth er t es ti ng to ru le ou t a l earn in g d is ab il ity an d t ha t Ho ll ad ay

co ul d b e tr an sf

erre d b ackin to th e ge ne ral po pu la ti on . Of th es e two tes ts , Dr. Acker so n c omm en te d t ha t Ho ll ad ay ’s hi gh er s co re o n t he pe rfo rm an ce as pe ctof t he tes t co m po rte d wi th m en ta ll y 18ret ard edin di vi du al s b utth athi s i m pr ov edpe rfo rm an ce s co res ov er t im e d idno t co m po rt wi th th e rel at iv el y

st ab le pe rfo rm an ce s co res th atm en ta ll y ret ard ed in di vi du al s u su al ly exh ib it . In fa ct , sh e o pi ne d t ha t h is pe rfo rm an ce s co res in th e la sttwo tes ts were i n t he “ Dul l No rm al ” o r lo w ave rag e ran ge . Afte r he was a rres te d fo r th e m ur de rs , Hol la da y

was a dm in is te reda po rti on of th e WA IS-R

in 19 87 an d s co reda 71 . Dr. Acker so n s ta te d t ha t the se sco res were co ns is te ntwith p rev io us tes ts th atwere ad m in is te red . Of hi s s co res on th e 19 91 tes t (aful l s cal e sc or e o f 65 ), Dr. Acke rs onadm it te d t ha t the adm in is tra to r of th attes t t es ti fie d i n d ep os it io n t ha t Ho ll ad ay ’s per fo rm an ce o n c ert ai n a sp ect s o f th e te stwere co ns is te ntwith m en ta l re ta rd at io n. Ho wev er, s he als o s ta te d t ha t the adm in is tra to r st at edoc cas io na ll y th atth e res ul t o f a p art ic ul ar t es t co ul d i nd ic at e a le arn in g d is ab il it y . Add it io na ll y , Dr. Acker so n t es ti fie d t ha t b ecau se Hol la day ha d b een on de ath ro w forsev en te eny ears , he c ou ldno t b e ad m in is te reda rel iabl e IQ te stno w. Thi s i s b ecau se no ne of the in te ll ectua l as se ss m en t t oo ls ha d b een no rm edon de ath ro w in m at es . Dr. Sal ek in , by co nt ras t, d idno t re ject t he pre vi ou sl y

adm in is te redtes ts an d adm in is te redanIQ tes t h ers el f be cau se sh e rea so ne d t ha t s om e fo rm of qu an ti fic at io n was ne ed ed . She no te d t ha t the adm in is tra to r of th e fi rs t IQ t es t 19rel ie d o n t he ve rb al sco re o f 62 to st at e th atHol la da y was o f bo rd erl in e in te ll ig en ce an d t ha t h e sh ou ldbe ab le to pro ceedin reg ul ar s ch oo l; Dr. Sale ki n c omm en te d th atth e adm in is tra to r’s pr ed ic ti on tu rn edou t t o b e u nt ru e b ecau se Hol la da y was he ldba cktwi ce an d p la cedin to sp eci al educ at io n c la ss es . She als o p oi nt edto hi s co ns is te nt ly low g rad es an d t he factth athe on ly com pl et edsi xt h g rad e. Inhe r op in io n, the DHR an d s ch oo l re co rd s s ug ge st edth atth e res ul ts of t he IQ tes ts were co rrec t –i.e. tha t Ho ll ad ay di d i n fa cthave si gn ifi can tl y suba ve rag e in te ll ectua l fu nc ti on in g. Fu rth er, al th ou gh Dr. Sale ki n tho ug htth atth e ear ly testsco res were lo w, th atpro babl y

was t he res ul t o f be ha vi or(whi ch th e rec or ds co nf irm was an is su e wit h Ho ll ad ay ), bu t ev enad di ng a fu ll st an da rdde vi at io n t o c ou nt erac t tha t effe ct , Hol la da y

wou ldst il l b e in th e m il d m en ta l re ta rd at io n s ect or . Fin al ly, sh e te st ifi edth atsh e was cau ti ou s ab ou t the va li di ty of th e fi rs t two t es ts be cau se Hol la da y was o nl y adm in is te redpa rt o f th e te st ; h owe ve r, sh e ev al ua te d t he m in li gh t o f th e la te r te st s an d t he co nt em po rary evi de nc e inth e rec or d, al l o f whi ch sh e be li ev edsupp orte d alo w IQ sco re i n t he m en ta l re ta rd at io n rang e. Dis m is si ng on e o f Dr. Ack ers on ’s cri ti ci sm s re la ti ng to th e in te rn al co ns is te nc y

of t he IQ sco res , Dr. Sale ki n t es ti fie d t ha t the re i s n o re as on to ex pe ct th atHol la da y ’s Verb al an d P erfo rm an ce Sc or es wou ldrem ai n c on st an t i n re la ti on to each ot he r. Ind eed , th e v ari at io n d idno t s ig ni fy an yth in g s o l on g a s t he 20di ffer en ce b etweenth e two sco res is no t s ta ti st ic al ly sig ni fic an t. Fu rth er, Dr.

Sal ek in tes ti fie d t ha t Dr. Ack ers on sh ou ldha ve adm in is te redhe r own IQ tes t t o de te rm in e th e v al id it y

of t he tes ts who se rel iabi li ty she qu es ti on ed , inord er t o s ee i f th ere was co ns is te nc y . In the tes t tha t s he adm in is te red , Dr. Sale ki n fo un d tha t Hol la da y ha d s ig ni fic an t d efi ci ts in flu idreas on in g, kno wled ge , andwork in g m em ory . Giv enhi s l ackof s ch oo li ng , th e d efi ci ts in kn owl ed ge were n ot su rp ris in g. Fl ui d re as on in g re fers to hi s ab il it y to so lv e p ro bl em s, an d wo rk in g m em ory in vo lv es th e ab il it y

to m an ip ul at e in fo rm at io n qui ck ly. Bo th of t he se area s are o ne s t ha t d ecl in e wit h a ge so Dr. Sale ki n was no t s ur pr is edto see th atth ey

were lo wer. His st ro ng es t ar eas , sh e fo un d, wer e in qu an ti ta ti ve reas on in g a ndvi su al sp aci al pro ces si ng , alt ho ug h s he no te d t ha t the y were s ti ll in th e m il d m en ta l ret ard at io n ra ng e. Dr. Sal ek in als o a dm in is te redth e Wood co ck -J oh ns on Test s o f Ach ie ve m en t, wh ic h c on firm edth atHol la da y ’s kn owl ed ge in acad em ic subjec ts was gl ob al ly defi ci en t, wh ic h t en de d t o ru le ou t the lea rn in g d is ab il it y th atDr. Ack ers onha d p os tu la te d. Insu m , Dr. Sale ki n re nd ereda co nf id en t o pi ni onth atHol la da y lab or ed un de r a s ig ni fic an tl y

suba ve rag e in te ll ectua l fu nc ti on in g t ha t m an ife st edit se lf be fo re ag e ei gh te en . Alth ou gh sh e ackno wled ge d s om e p os si bl e u nc ert ai nt ie s wi th res pe ctto th e ear ly test s (1 95 8) , sh e d idno t re ject t he m en ti rel y , bu t ev al ua te d t he m 21in li gh t o f th e la te r te st s an d i n l ig htof the co nt em po rary evi de nc e th atwas in di cat iv e o f m en ta l re ta rd at io n andth e lo w IQ sco res in th e te st s. Fo r ex am pl e, Dr. Sal ek in ob se rv edth atth e sc ho ol reco rd s wer e “ rep le te with i nf orm at io n t ha t supp orts a di ag no si s o f m en ta l re ta rd at io n.” The di stric t co urt co ns id eredall of t he IQ tes ts , no ti ng th atth e m ean of t ho se te st s (e xc lu di ng th e m os t re cen t s co re o f 58 on Dr. Sale ki n’s St an fo rd -Bi ne t t es t, whi chDr. Sale ki n h adackno wled ge d was art ifi ci al ly low b ecau se of a gi ng an d ex te ns iv e in carc erat io n) , was 6 4. Th e co urt re co gn iz edth atDr. Acke rs on ha d reject edth e IQ te stsco res ba se d upo n i nt ern al in co ns is te nc ie s an d t he factth atDr. Ack ers on“ di d n otkn ow” ho w th e te st s wer e ad m in is te red . W it h re sp ectto th e fo rm er, the di stric t co urt co m m en te d t ha t Dr. Ack ers on ha d c it edno in de pe nd en t au th or it y to supp ort h er o pi ni on . W it h re sp ectto th e la tt er, the di stric t co urt n ot ed 1 0 th at : “Neit he r Dr. Ack ers on no r th e m ag is tra te jud ge purp ort t o s ug ge stho w th e te st s atis su e were i m

pr op erl y adm in is te red , no r ho w th e p et it io ne r, pa rti cu la rly at ag e 9 , m al in ge red .” 46 3 F .Supp .2dat 1 34 2 n .22 . The d is tri ctco urt al so cri ti ci zed Dr. Acke rs on ’s “ so m ewh atco nc lu so ry de te rm in at io n o f no m en ta l re ta rd at io n,” id . at13 44 , cit in g Dr. Ack ers on ’s comm en t tha t wh en“ so m eb od y co m es to m e an d i t’s
We also note that Dr. Salekin c onsidered the inconsistencies to which D r. 1 0 Acke rson pointed, and opined that most of the inconsistencies we re not statistically signific ant, and opined that the inc onsistencies did not rende r the I Q score s unreliable. 22ob vi ou s t he y are n otm en ta ll y

ret ard ed , itis no t n eces sa ry form e to gi ve anIQ te st ,” id ., andcit in g a ls o t he factth atDr. Acke rs onin te rv ie wedHol la da y foron ly fo urto fiv e h ou rs as c om pa redto Dr. Sale ki n’s t wo- pl us da y s, i d. at12 44 n.2 4. Bas edup on th e IQ te st s an d t he ot he r reco rdev id en ce, the di st ric t co urt fo un d

“ ov erwh el m in g s ub st an ti al ev id en ce . . . th athe ha s h adsi nc e b efo re ag e 1 8 an IQ of les s t han 7 0.” Id. at13 42 . W e can no t co nc lu de th atth e d is tri ctco urt erredwhen ithe ldth atHol la da y sh owe d t ha t h e h adsi gn ifi can tl y subave rag e in te ll ectua l fu nc ti on in g a ndwhenit cred it edDr. Sale ki n’s i nt erp ret at io n o f th e sc or es . Altho ug h t he re m ay ha ve be en so m e p ro bl em s wi th th e te stsco res , we no te th atas Dr. Sa le ki n p oi nt edou t the y are fai rly con si st en t, es pe ci al ly tho se fro m hi s adul th oo d, wh enhe sco reda 66 , 73 , 69 , 72 , 71 , and65 . Thatran ge is on ly eig htpo in ts . W e n ot e th atth e av erag e o f th os e sc or es is les s t ha n 7 0. We als o n ot e th atbo th ex pe rts ackno wled ge d t ha t the Nov em be r 19 69 sco re o f 73 was p ro babl y art ifi ci al ly hig h b ecau se of “ pr act ic e effe ct ,” an d t ha t the 19 79 tes t s co re o f 72 m ay als o h av e b een . Mo reo ve r, al l o f 1 1 1 2 th e sc or es were o n WAIS tes ts , whi ch m ay ha ve refl ect edele va te d s co res be cau se This test was administered only eight months after the Ma rch 1969 te st in which 1 1 the score was 66.

This test was administered in Ma rch 1979, f

ourtee n months after the J anuar y 1978 1 2 test. 23of

th e Fl ynn effe ct . W e can no t co nc lu de th atth e d is tri ctco urt was cle arl y 1 3 erro ne ou s i n d is co un ti ng Dr. Acke rs on ’s reject io n o f th e te stsco res , andin cred it in g Dr. Sa le ki n’s i nt erp ret at io n o f th e sc or es as r el iabl e an d c on si st en t wi th th e co nt em

po rary evi de nc e supp orti ng m en ta l re ta rd at io n. Fo r ex am pl e, we ag ree with t he di stric t co urt tha t the factth atDr. Acke rs on “ do es no t kno w” ho w th e IQ te st s wer e adm in is te redis a weakcri ti ci sm th ereo f. Mo reo ve r, al th ou gh Dr.

1 4 Ack ers onreject edth e te stsco res , sh e n ev erthe le ss ass um edth atHol la da y ’s IQ wou ldbe lo w, bu t p os tu la te d t ha t i t was lo w forreas on s o th er tha n m en ta l ret ard at io n –i.e. a l earn in g d is ab il it y an d apo orho m e en vi ro nm en t. We cann ot co nc lu de th atth e d is tri ctco urt was cle arl y erro ne ou s i n re

jecti ng th is reas on in g. W e ag ree wi th th e d is tri ctco urt tha t the re i s l it tl e supp ort i n t he reco rdforDr. Ack ers on ’s alt ern at e ex pl an at io ns . Forth e fo reg oi ng reas on s, we h ol d tha t the 1 5 di st ric t co urt d idno t cl earl y err wh enitcred it edDr. Sale ki n o ve r Dr. Ack ers on an d he ldth atHol la da y

ha d d em on st rat edsi gn ifi can tl y suba ve rag e in te ll ectua l See note 4, supra . 1 3 I f such c riticism were sufficie nt to render unreliable past I Q tests, there would 1 4 rar ely be I Q tests over time upon whic h courts could r ely . It makes much more sense to eva luate past tests in light of all of the information ava ilable.

We note that Dr. Ac kerson did not test Holladay for a lear ning disa bility . We also 1 5 note that Dr. Sale kin’s Woodcock-Johnson t est indicated g lobal achie vement def icits, which tends to rule out a mer e lea rningdisability . Finally , Dr. Ac kerson se ems to ignor e the f act that poor home e nvironment is a re cognized contributor to mental reta rdation. 24fu nc ti on in g.

B. Sig ni fic an t o r Subs ta nt ia l Def ic it s i n Ad ap ti ve Beh av io r The reco rdin th is cas e co nt ai ns ex te ns iv e d oc um en ts fro m Hol la da y ’s y ou th an d young adul th oo d, m os tl y fro m be fo re h e was in carc erat ed . Am on g t ho se 1 6 reco rd s ar e th e fi le s fr om th e Alaba m a Dep art m en t o f Hum anRes ou rces (“ DHR”), hi s s ch oo l, juv en il e co urt, Ce nt ral Sta te Hos pi ta l, v ari ou s o th er h os pi ta ls , Tay lo r Hard in Secu re Me di cal Faci li ty, an d t he Depa rtment o f Co rrec ti on s. Ad di ti on al ly, bo th ex pe rts ha d a cces s t o Ho ll ad ay ’s tri al an d d ep os it io n t es ti m on y . The ex pe rts al so rel ie d o n e xt en si ve in te rv ie ws, as de ta il edab ov e. Hol la da y ’s earl y

li fe was qu it e tu m

ul tu ou s, as rev eal edin th e DHR rec or ds . His fathe r was anit in eran t p ai nt er, wh o was ab se ntfreque nt ly andwhen he was ho m e was pro ne to do m es ti c v io le nc e, ab us in g b ot h h is wife an d c hi ld ren . Hol la da y ’s m ot he r was analc oh ol ic who was a ls o fr eque nt ly abs en t; he r ab se nc es were due he r dr in ki ng bi ng es . The DHR rec or ds reco un t v is it s t o t he ho m e whe n no adul t h adbe enpre se ntforda y s an d t he ch il dr enha d b een lef t t o fe ndfor th em se lv es ; s om e o f th e ch il dr enwere n o m or e th anto dd le rs at the ti m e. In19 62 , whe n Ho ll ad ay

was t hi rte en , th e ch il dr enwere t ak enaway fro m th e Hol la da y Both e x perts agree d that Holladay ’s ada ptive functioningcannot beacc urate ly 1 6 assessed now

beca use he ha s spent over 17 year s in prison, a hig hly restric ted and r estrictive environment. 25pa ren ts an d p la cedin fos te r car e. Als o i nc lu de d i n t ho se reco rd s ar e Hol la da y ’s

earl y run -in s wi th th e la w. At th e ag e o f th irt een , he was pl acedon“ in de fin it e pr ob at io n” forth ro win g ro ck s an d p la ci ng sp ik es an d o th er thi ng s o n t he rai lro ad tra ck s. He al so ap pa ren tl y ho pp edon an d c rawl edun de r m ov in g t rai ns . Two y ears la te r, whe n h e was fif

te en , Hol la da y

was a rres te d fo r co m

m it ti ng a se rie s o f bu rg larie s. As a res ul t o f th es e in ci de nt s, Ho ll ad ay was s en t t o t he Alab am a Bo y s In du stria l Sc ho ol fora y ear; a y ear a fte r th athe returne d fo r an ot he r st in t. The sch oo l re co rd s p res en t a p ic tu re o f a ch il d wi th sev ere l earn in g di ffi cu lt ie s. Ho ll ad ay

rep eat edbo th fir stan d s eco ndgra de an d e arn ed“ F” i n a ll acad em ic subjec ts with t he ex cep ti on of o ne “ C-” i n t hi rdgra de m ath. In it ia ll y he was co op erat iv e, bu t b y

th e ti m e h e rea ch edfif

th gra de , he h adbe co m e d is rupt iv e. One tea ch er re po rte dl y

ha d h im wash he r cardu rin g c la ss rathe r th anha ve hi m pr es en t dur in g l es so ns . Ind eed , no te s i n t he reco rdst at e th athe was “ so m ewh atof a ret ard edch il d,” th athi s p ro m ot io ns were s oc ia l, an d t ha t i t was “ do ub tfu l tha t h e [wo ul d] be ab le to do an yth in g e xc ep t p res en t a p ro bl em in th e cl as sr oo m .” His educ at io n e nd edaft er s ix th gra de , a y ear i n wh ic h h e was pl acedin a sp eci al educ at io n c la ss . Befo re the n, h is ele m en ta ry sch oo l p rin ci pa l h adtri edto ha ve hi m pl acedin a sp eci al educ at io n s ch oo l b utitwas fu ll . The p rin ci pa l h adno te d t ha t Hol la da y was “ de fin it el y

m en ta ll y ret ard ed ” an d a no th er t each er wro te th athe “ di d 26no t h av e th e ab il it y to lea rnon th e le ve l o f anav erag e ch il d.” Altho ug h h e was fir ston th e wai ti ng li stat t ha t s ch oo l, i t was no t unt il si xt h g rad e th atHol la da y was ab le to be pl acedin a sp eci al educ at io n c la ss . Hol la da y ap pa ren tl y

di d wel l i n t ha t cl as s, wi th on e o f th e te ach ers co m m en ti ng th atsh e b el ie ve d h is pro bl em s wer e m or e rel at edto co nf

li ctwithi n h is ho m e en vi ro nm en t tha n s eri ou s i nt el le ctua l li m it at io ns . She ap pa ren tl y ba se d t hi s s ta te m en t o n t he factth athe ha d “ so m e su cces s i n m ath” an d “ co ul d s ay ba ckto he r so m e o f th e th in gs th atsh e rea d t o hi m .” Inco rres po nd en ce re ga rd in g h is ti m e atth e In du st ria l Sc ho ol , itwas su gg es te d t ha t b ecau se hi s i m pa ire d c og ni ti ve ab il it ie s p rev en te d h im fro m su ccee di ng els ewh ere, h e sh ou ldbe pl acedin a tr ad e sc ho ol . There is no th in g i n th e rec or d, tho ug h, t o s ug ge stth atth is was e ve r do ne . Hol la da y rem ai ns fu nc ti on al ly ill it erat e. Hol la da y ’s workhi st ory

is qu it e sp ars e b ecau se of h is in ab il it y to ret ai n jo bs an d h is freque ntin carc erat io ns . Accor di ng to a ch artco m pi le d b y on e o f th e ex pe rts , th e lo ng es t tha t Ho ll ad ay he lda job was n in e m on th s. His job s i nc lu de d pu m pi ng ga s (wh ic h h e h adto lea ve be cau se he co ul d n otworkth e cas h re gi st er), lo ad in g t ru ck s, s ta ck in g b ox es , carrying an d t eari ng off sh in gl es fro m

roo fs , pi ck in g up t ras h fo r m on ey , andass is ti ng hi s fa th er wi th pa in ti ng . Of th e la stjob , hi s b ro th ers an d Ho ll ad ay rep orte d t ha t h e co ul d o nl y do th e u ns ki ll edlab oran d 27wou ldbe co m e co nf us edwhenask edso m ethi ng in vo lv in g a ny kn owl ed ge , su ch as th e d iff eren ce b etweena sc rewdriv er an d ascr ap er. He rep orte d t o o ne of t he ex pe rts th athe supp orte d h im se lf wh enno t wo rk in g b y pe tty th eft s an d a ss is ta nc e fro m hi s wi ve s an d fa m il y . Hol la da y lo ston e job at awareh ou se be cau se ot he r em pl oyees wer e co nc ern edab ou t h is in ab il it ie s. Ho ll ad ay rep orte d t ha t h e h adno tro ub le pe rfo rm in g t he m en ia l jo bs th athe was a ss ig ne d a t wo rk an d o n wo rkdu ty atpri so n. Ho ll ad ay

an d h is bro th er re po rte d t ha t h e o bt ai ne d a ll of h is job s t hr ou gh th e as si st an ce o f fri en ds or f am il y . As i nt im at edab ov e, Hol la da y ha d fr eque ntrun -in s wi thth e la w. At th e ag e of eig ht een , Hol la da y

was c ha rg edwith As saul t an d B at te ry an d M ol es ti ng . Dur in g t he en su in g t wen ty y ears , he was arre st edforSex ua l Ab us e Fi rs t Deg ree, Bu rg la ry , Buyin g a ndRece iv in g S to le n P ro pe rty, Peep in g To m , Sex ua l Ab us e, Rap e, Escape , Kidnapi ng , Att em pt edMu rd er, an d v ari ou s fi rearm s ch arg es . Hol la da y ha s t wice att em

pt edto esc ap e fro m

pri so n, wi th su cces s o nl y on hi s se co ndatt em

pt . In tha t at te m

pt , he a ss is te d a no th er i nm at e as th ey ov erp owe reda gu ardan d s to le a car. Du rin g t he pe rio d a fte r he ha d e sc ap ed , Hol la da y co m m it te d th e m ur de rs forwhi ch he is no w im pr is on ed . Hol la da y

rem ai ne d a t l arg e fro m Mar chun ti l Oct ob er, wit h t he m ur de rs tak in g p la ce i n l at e Aug us t. Whil e atlar ge , Hol la da y tra ve le d e xt en si ve ly arou ndth e So ut he as t, s ta y in g i n m ot el s, trad in g a nd 28se ll in g c ars , andfin di ng od d jo bs .

The Depa rtment o f Co rrec ti on s re co rd s re ve al th atHol la day was i ni ti al ly a vi ol en t an d t hr eat en in g i nm at e dur in g h is in carc erat io ns . Sin ce the earl y 19 90 s, ho wev er, Ho ll ad ay ’s beh av io r ha s i m pr ov edan d h e is ev enco ns id ereda m od el in m at e. Bo th ex pe rts no te d t ha t Ho ll ad ay was abl e to m an ag e h is di ab et es , andth at he was abl e to pro cu re ap pr op ria te m ed ic al care whi le he was i nc arce rat ed . Bas edon he r rev ie w of the reco rd , in te rv ie ws wi th ot he rs who ha d kno wn Hol la da y , andhe r in te rv ie w with Ho ll ad ay hi m se lf, Dr. Ack ers on de te rm in edth at Hol la da y was n otret ard ed . Whi le Dr. Acke rs on ackno wled ge d t ha t Ho ll ad ay ha d subs ta nt ia l d efi ci ts in acad em ic s, s he di d n otth in k t ha t h e h adde fic it s i n a ny of th e ot he r ad ap ti ve fun ct io ni ng area s t ha t ar e id en ti fie d i n t he li te ratur e. And , alt ho ug h sh e d idreco gn iz e Hol la da y ’s def ic it s i n a cad em ic s, s he th ou gh t tha t the roo t o f hi s pr ob le m was alea rn in g d is ab il it y , lac k o f educ at io na l o pp ortu ni ty (his sch oo l at te nd an ce was po or ), be ha vi or al pro bl em s, an ti -s oc ia l b eh av io r, an d h is ch ao ti c ho m e en vi ro nm en t. He ap pe aredto ha ve de ve lo pe d m ean s t o g etaro un d h is il li te racy by

us in g s ym

bo ls , get ti ng hi tc hh ik ers to di recthi m , us in g l an dm ark s fo r di rect io ns , andge tt in g o th ers to do hi s re ad in g a ndwrit in g. Dr. Acke rs on ch arac te riz edhi s fu nc ti on in g a s b ei ng at “ a h ig he r le ve l tha n i s al lo wedwith m en ta l re ta rd at io n.” Spe ci fic al ly, sh e p oi nt edto hi s t es ti m on y in 29bo th th e tr ia l an d d ep os it io ns , whi ch were b ot h h ig hl y st res sf ul si tu at io n a ndin whi chsh e th ou gh t h e d idwell ; s he ob se rv edth athi s v oc ab ul ary di d n otsee m co ns is te ntwith s om eo ne who is m en ta ll y ret ard edan d h is m em ory see m edm or e adva nc ed . Sim il arl y , sh e th ou gh t tha t h e fu nc ti on edab ov e th e m en ta ll y ret ard ed le ve l dur in g h er i nt erv ie w with h im , po in ti ng to hi s ab il it y to rem em

be r na m es , da te s, an d a dd res se s, h is ab il it y to st ay foc us eddu rin g c on ve rs at io n, an d h is kn owl ed ge of s oc ia l n ic et ie s, s uc h a s s ta nd in g a si de to lethe r us e th e v en di ng m ach in e fi rs t an d g iv in g h er the ap pr op ria te am ou ntof p ers on al sp ace. Sh e al so po in te d t o h is lac k o f pr ob le m s wi th sel f-ca re an d h is ab il ity to reque stap pr op ria te m ed ic al att en ti on ; s he als o o bs erv edth athe no te d wh ic h m ed ic at io ns work edan d reque st edth em

lat er. Ci ti ng pa rti cu la rly Holl ad ay ’s act io ns du rin g t he ev en ts su rro un di ng th e m

ur de rs , Dr. Acker so n t es ti fie d t ha t Ho ll ad ay ha d “ en ga ge d i n ve ry pu rp os efu l, d el ib erat e act io n,” an d s he no te d t ha t h e h adto ldso m eo ne da y s be fo re the m

ur de rs th athe wou ldki ll hi s ex -wif e. Sh e n ot edth athe m an ag edno t to be cau gh t wh il e en ga gi ng in cri m in al act s; ful fil le d n eed s t ha t h e h ad(i.e . vi a th e pe ep in g b eh av io r); elu de d l aw en fo rcem en t; us edanali as ; av oi de d c ert ai n t op ic s su cces sf ul ly whe n b ei ng in te rro ga te d b y law en fo rcem en t o ffi cers ; s uc ces sf ul ly tra ve le d aro un d d iff

eren t s ta te s; an d d idno t ar ou se th e su sp ic io n o f an y law en fo rcem en t o ffi cers . Turn in g t o e m pl oym en t, Dr. Ack ers on op in edth atHol la da y 30was ab le to workbu t tha t s he th ou gh t h e d idno t wan t t o; sh e p oi nt edto hi s re po rt

th aton e o f hi s jo bs was e as y , th athe lef t o ne job be cau se he co ul d g etpa idm or e at an ot he r, an d t ha t h e lo stst il l an ot he r be cau se of h is ch oi ce t o g o “ pe ep in g” rathe r th ango in g t o wo rk . By co nt ras t, Dr. Sal ek in fou ndsi gn ifi can t d efi ci ts in sev eral area s o f ad ap ti ve fun ct io ni ng . Her rev ie w of t he reco rdlef t h er wi th anim

pr es si onof co ns is te nc y

acro ss ti m e th atHol la da y ha d s ig ni fic an t d efi ci ts . Firs t, Dr. Sal ek in ci te d Ho ll ad ay ’s acad em ic reco rd , no ti ng th athe was i ll it erat e an d h adon ly co m pl et edth e si xt h g rad e. Mo reo ve r, hi s s ch oo l re co rd s re po rte d tha t h is pr om ot io n was “ so ci al ” an d t ha t h e rec ei ve d “ Fs ” in all subjec ts ev ery y ear e xc ep t on ce wh enhe rece iv eda “ C-.” To rul e o utDr. Acke rs on ’s th eo ry th atHol la da y ha d alearn in g d is ab il it y

an d s ta te m en t tha t h e d idno t h av e b ro ad -b as edco gn it iv e de fic it s, Dr. Sal ek in adm in is te redth e Wood co ck -J oh ns on Test s o f Ach ie ve m en t - 3r d e di ti on . This tes t m eas ur es acad em ic ach ie ve m en t an d Dr. Sa le ki n c ou ldno t adm in is te r pa rts of i t t o Ho ll ad ay be cau se of h is il li te racy. The tes t re ve al edth at Hol la da y su ffer edfro m

bro ad -b as edde fic it s, wi th so m e st ren gt hs in ora l l an gu ag e, or al ex pr es si on , andli st en in g c om pr eh en si on ; h owe ve r, ev enth os e sc or es co rrel at edto lo wer el em en ta ry gra de s. Dr. Sal ek in als o i de nt ifi edHol la da y ’s comm un ic at io n, s oc ia l, em

pl oym en t, 31se lf- di rect io n, co m m un it y li vi ng , andhe al th an d s afet y sk il ls as areas in whi ch he ha d d efi ci en ci es . Begi nn in g wi th co m m un ic at io n, Dr. Sa le ki n n ot edth atHol la da y was ve ry tan ge nt ia l dur in g h er i nt erv ie ws wi th hi m an d h adto be red ire ct ed freque nt ly; Hol la da y ’s form er at to rn ey als o re po rte d p ro bl em s wi thke ep in g Hol la da y on tra ckan d a n e xa m in in g p sychi atris t i n 1 99 0 a ls o o bs erv edth is tra it . Add it io na ll y , Dr. Sale ki n c it edon e o f th e g uard s o n d eat h ro w andth e sa m e at to rn ey forth ei r st at em en ts th atth ey ha d t o k eep th in gs ve ry

si m pl e in ord er fo r Hol la da y to un de rs ta nd ; Dr. Sal ek in ex pe rie nc edth atin he r in te rv ie w as wel l. Turn in g t o Ho ll ad ay ’s so ci al sk il ls , Dr. Sale ki n n ot edth atHol la da y di d n ot se em to un de rs ta ndth e so ci al awkwa rdne ss of h is adm is si on of b es ti al it y or h is acci de ntwith the en em a. One s ou rce re po rte d t o h er tha t Ho ll ad ay freque nt ly in te rrupt s p eo pl e an d b eg in s t al ki ng ab ou t u nr el at edto pi cs whi le in co nv ers at io n with o th ers . Ano th er s ou rce, Ho ll ad ay ’s si st er, rep orte d t ha t h e o fte n in ap pr op ria te ly flirte d wi th he r fri en ds an d g otto o c lo se to pe op le . Fin al ly, sh e po in te d t o h is sex off

en se s as ev id en ce o f ve ry po orso ci al sk il ls . W it h re ga rdto hi s emplo ym en t h is to ry , Dr. Sale ki n n ot edth atitwas ex tre m el y sp ars e, an d t ha t m os t o f hi s jo bs were o bt ai ne d b y ot he rs forhi m . All o f hi s jo bs were m en ia l, as wou ldbe ex pe ct edforso m eo ne in th e m il d m en ta ll y ret ard edran ge . Dov et ai li ng with e m pl oym en t i s Ho ll ad ay ’s sel f-d ire ct io n, o r la ck 32th ereo f: Dr. Sa le ki n t es ti fie d t ha t Ho ll ad ay lac ke d any sel f-d ire ct io n a ndth athi s cri m in al it y

was m or e o f a m ean s o f ge tt in g h is ne ed s m et . Howev er, s he no te d t ha t he co ns ta nt ly w as cau gh t s o h e was no t a v ery su cces sf ul cri m in al . Turn in g t o h eal th an d s afet y , Dr. Sale ki n c it edhi s d eci si on s t o c li m b und er m ov in g t rai ns as ach il d, an d t o b reakin to bu il di ng s wh enitwas o bv io us to m os t pe op le th atth ere wo ul d b e anala rm ; s he als o n ot edth athe di d n otst op when or de redto do so by offi cers an d s o e nd edup ge tt in g s ho t. Ad di ti on al ly, sh e won de redif h e wou ldbe ab le to m an ag e h is di ab et es if h e were n otin a hi gh ly st ru ctur eden vi ro nm en t b ecau se sh e th in ks th athe is to o i m pu ls iv e. Fin al ly, sh e te st ifi edth atth ere was no ev id en ce tha t Ho ll ad ay was c ap ab le of l iv in g o n h is own : du rin g m os t o f hi s adul th oo d, h e m ov edin an d o utof h is pa ren ts ’ ho m e an d re li ed on th em an d h is wiv es forsupp ort. Itdi d n otap pe ar tha t h e h adan y res po ns ib il it ie s fo r m ai nt ai ni ng a ho m e o r th athe ha d tho se sk il ls . The di stric t co urt n ot edin it ia ll y th atbo th Dr. Sale ki n a ndDr. Acke rs on ag reedth atHol la day

ha d s ub st an ti al ad ap ti ve de fic ie nc ie s i n the areaof a cad em ic s. 46 3 F .Supp .2dat 1 34 3. Th e d is tri ctco urt the n a dd res se d the areaof wo rk , and fo un d “ ov erwh el m in g e vi de nc e th atPet it io ne r ha s n ev er d on e an d h as ne ve r be en cap ab le of d oi ng an y

workm or e th anm en ia l t as ks .” Id . The co urt h adearl ie r de sc rib edex am

pl es of Ho ll ad ay ’s li m it at io ns with re gardto work : e.g . inhe lp in g i n 33hi s fa th er’s p ai nt in g b us in es s, h e co ul d n otbe de pe nd edonto bu y pa in t, h e wou ld se t a l ad de r up si de do wn, an d h e d idno t kno w th e d iff eren ce b etweena sc rewdriv er an d ascr ap er; e.g. h e was un ab le to workth e m ach in es at Kel ly T ire ; an d e .g. h e co ul d n otev enop erat e sa ti sf act or il y as a“ runn er” i n p ris on . Id. at 13 37 . The co urt fo un d t ha t the ev id en ce i nd ic at edth atth e k in d o f m en ia l t as ks th at Hol la da y co ul d p erfo rm

were “ en ti rel y

co ns is te ntwith t he type o f work wh ic h c an be pe rfo rm edby the m en ta ll y ret ard ed .” Id . at 1 34 3. Th e d is tri ctco urt al so cit ed hi s p ro pe ns it y

to en ga ge in sex ua l ac ts with a ni m al s (a ndhi s fa il ur e to un de rs ta nd th e st ran ge ne ss th ereo f) an d h is in ap pr op ria te att itud e to wardwom en(e.g . pee pi ng an d s ex ua l as saul t) a s ev id en ce o f Hol la day ’s lac k o f so ci al ad ap ta ti on . Id. at13 46 . Inth e en d, the di st ric t co urt fo un d s ig ni fic an t d efi ci en ci es in th e fo ll owi ng cat eg or ie s o f ad ap ti ve fun ct io ni ng : co m m un ic at io n; so ci al sk il ls ; co m m un ity us e; fu nc ti on al acad em ic s; an d wo rk . Id. at13 46 ; s ee al so id . at 1 34 7 (a dd in g s im il ar fin di ng s wi th reg ardto sel f di rect io n, h eal th an d s afet y , andco nc ep tu al sk il ls ). In so fin di ng , th e co urt ex pr es sl y di sc red it edDr. Acke rs on ’s tes ti m on y fora nu m

be r of reas on s, s ee i d. at13 43 -4 7, an d u lt im at el y fou ndth atDr. Sale ki n’s o pi ni on was be tt er s up po rte d b y

th e ev id en ce, i d. at13 47 . W e can no t co nc lu de th atth e d is tri ctco urt erredwhen itfou ndth atHol la da y ha d s ho wn h e h as si gn ifi can t o r subs ta nt ia l d efi ci ts in ad ap ti ve be ha vi or . Like th e 34co urt b el ow, we n ot e th atDr. Sale ki n c on du ct eda far m or e ex te ns iv e in te rv ie w

with Ho ll ad ay

th anDr. Acke rs on an d a ls o i nt erv ie wedm an y m or e p eo pl e in he r pr ep arat io n t ha n Dr. Ack ers on . Add it io na ll y , we no te th atalt ho ug h the cri te riafor di ag no si ng m en ta l re ta rd at io n i nc lu de s d et erm in in g t ha t d efi ci en ci es were p res en t be fo re the de fen da nttu rn edeig ht een , Dr. Acker so n d idno t i nt erv ie w anyon e who kn ew Hol la da y

be fo re h e b ecame an adul t. Dr. Ack ers on als o s el ect eda m uc h na rro wer ran ge of s ub

jects with wh om

to sp eakab ou t Ho ll ad ay ’s con du ctas a n adul t, fo cu si ng pri m ari ly on l aw en fo rcem en t an d a n o bv io us ly hos ti le ex -wif e who wou ldno t ev ensp eakwith Dr. Sa le ki n. By con tra st , Dr. Sale ki n s po ke to sev eral of Hol la da y ’s si bl in gs , a fo rm er n ei gh bo r, a fo rm er l awy er, fri en ds an d p ris on pe rs on ne l (g ua rd s an d m ed ic al ). And , alt ho ug h n ota cu st om ary us e o f th e te st , Dr. Sal ek in adm in is te redth e SIB -5 to two of Ho ll ad ay ’s bro th ers inanatt em ptto qu an ti fy hi s ad ap ti ve be havi ordu rin g t he pre -ei gh te eny ears ol d p eri od ; Dr. Ack ers onm ad e n o s uc h e ffo rts to qu an ti fy Hol la da y ’s beh av io r. Ano th er re as onth atth e d is tri ctco urt cr ed it edDr. Sale ki n’s o pi ni on ov er Dr. Ack ers on ’s was Dr. Ack ers on ’s fai lu re t o a dm in is te r anIQ tes t t o Ho ll ad ay . Dr. Ack ers ontes ti fie d t ha t s he di d n otne edto adm in is te r anIQ tes t t o ru le ou t m en ta l

35ret ard at io n a ndth atwas the st an da rdpra ct ic e if o ne co ul d d et erm in e fro m 1 7 in te rv ie ws an d re co rdrev ie w th atth e subjec t’s ad ap ti ve fun ct io ni ng was abo ve th at of a pe rs on with m en ta l re ta rd at io n. Sh e te st ifi edth atHol la day ’s tes ti m on y at t ria l an d i n d ep os it io n was in co ns is te ntwith s om eo ne who se IQ was t ha t l ow b ecau se of m en ta l re ta rd at io n. Ho wev er, we h av e rev ie wedth os e tr an sc rip ts an d a gr ee wi th Dr. Sal ek in an d t he di stric t co urt tha t the y are n otin co ns is te ntwith s om eo ne with m il d m en ta l re ta rd at io n. Ho ll ad ay tes ti fie d a ga in stth e ad vi ce o f hi s at to rn ey s, the tri al jud ge , andev enth e p ro se cu to r. Duri ng th e te st im on y , he a da m an tl y in si st ed th athe was i n Ten ne ss ee atth e ti m e o f th e m ur de rs whensev eral ey ewit ne ss es , in cl ud in g h is form er s te ps on , pl acedhi m at t he sce ne of t he cri m e in Alab am a. Whe n a sk edwhy hi s fi ng erp rin ts were fo un d i n a n aband on edcar n earb y , Hol la da y rep li edth atso m eo ne m

us t h av e st ol enth em

or b orro wedth em . Sim il arl y , he g av e anim pl au si bl e an swe r to th e que st io n o f ho w a ph ot o o f hi m go t i n t ha t ca r. Dur in g h is de po si ti on , he o fte n s ou gh t h is co un se l’s ad vi ce ab ou t an swe rin g qu es ti on s b utth endi sr eg ard edit , andoft enan swe redin way s t ha t s ho wedpo or jud gm en t; th is oc cu rredde sp it e h is att orne y ’s len gt hy prep arat io n o f Hol la da y

The district cour

t countere d her state ment with a cite f rom J ames W. Ellis and 1 7 Ruth A. Luckasson, Mentally Re tarded Criminal Defendants , Geo. Wash. L . Rev. 414, 488 (1984-85) , which stated that when mental r etar dation was suspec ted, testingshould be administered. The court be low rea soned that bec ause this Court had stated that there w as a rea sonable likelihood that Holladay was re tarde d, Dr. Ac kerson should have administered a n I Q test. 36be fo re the de po si ti on th atin vo lv edco nc ret e co un se li ng on ho w to an swe r

pa rti cu la r qu es ti on s. Mo reo ve r, we no te , as d idth e d is tri ctco urt, s ee 4 63 1 8 F.Supp .2dat 1 33 5, tha t b ot h t he tri al jud ge an d t he pro se cu to r ch arac te riz ed Hol la da y as “ sl ig ht ly m en ta ll y

ret ard ed ;” in de ed , th e tr ia l ju dg e fo un d t hi s t o b e a no n- st atut ory

m it ig at in g c irc um st an ce atsen te nc in g. In di vi du al s wi th m en ta l re ta rd at io n h av e st ren gt hs an d wea kn es se s, l ik e al l in di vi du al s. In de ed , th e cri te riafordi ag no si s re co gn iz es th is by requ iri ng a sh owi ng of d efi ci ts in on ly two o f te n i de nt ifi edarea s o f ad ap ti ve fun ct io ni ng . Dr. Ack ers on ’s pre do m in an t fo cu s o n Ho ll ad ay ’s act io ns su rro un di ng th e cri m e su gg es ts th atsh e d idno t re co gn iz e th is . Dr. Sale ki n’s t es ti m on y , by co nt ras t, 1 9 co ge nt ly exp la in edHol la da y ’s stren gt hs with re ga rdto th e ev en ts of t he cri m e b ut al so ex pl ai ne d t ha t s om e o f wha t Al ab am a p oi nt s t o a s s tre ng th s ar e act iv it ie s t ha t anin di vi du al with m il d m en ta l re ta rd at io n i s capabl e o f pe rfo rm in g. Fo r th e fo reg oi ng reas on s, we ca nn otco nc lu de th atth e d is tri ctco urt was cle arl y erro ne ou s in fin di ng th atHol la da y

ha d m ethi s b ur de n o f pr ov in g t ha t h e h as ha d s ig ni fic an t We note that this counseling ma y have r esulted in Holladay ’s use of w ords that 1 8 Dr. Ac kerson thought were inconsistent with a person with mental r etar dation.

We rejec t Alabama’ s argument that the district court did not consider the eve nts 1 9 leadingup to and followingthe crime and Hollada y ’s succ ess in avoidingcaptur e. The district court c onsidered the se eve nts at some leng th, but found that they did not forec lose a findingof mental re tardation. See 463 F.Supp.2d at 1346-47. 37an d s ub st an ti al de fic it s i n a dapt iv e b eh av io r. W e ag ree wi th th e d is tri ctco urt tha t

th ere i s ex tre m el y

st ro ng ev id en ce t o s up po rt the fin di ng of s ub st an ti al de fic it s wi th res pe ctto fun ct io na l ac ad em ic s an d wo rk . W it h re sp ectto th e fo rm er, the two ex pe rts ag reed . W it h re sp ectto th e la tt er, the di st ric t co urt re ferr edto th e ev id en ce as “ ov erwh el m in g.” 46 3 F .Supp .2dat 1 34 3. 2 0 C. Ons etBefo re the Age o f Eig ht een The is su e o f whe th er Ho ll ad ay ’s in te ll ectua l d is ab il it ie s m an ife st ed th em se lv es be fo re the ag e o f ei gh te enis no t s eri ou sl y di sp ut edby A laba m a; th e m ai n fo cu s o f it s ar gu m en t i s t ha t Ho ll ad ay was n ev er m en ta ll y

ret ard ed . W e can no t co nc lu de th atth e d is tri ctco urt was cle arl y erro ne ou s wh enithe ldth at Hol la da y ad du cedsu ffi ci en t p ro of of h is m en ta l re ta rd at io n andth atitm an ife st ed it se lf b efo re h e tu rn edeig ht een .

Although the criteria for me ntal reta rdation re quires a show ing of defic its in onl y 2 0 two of ten identified a

rea s, a criteria whic h Alabama ’s brief on appea l never

challeng es, we note that both Dr. Salekin and the district court found significant de ficits in adaptive f unctioning in sever al additional ar eas. O ur re view of the rec ord per suades us that ther e is ample e vidence to support the district court’s f indings, at least in a suffic ient number of a dditional area s that we could not conclude that the district court c lear ly err ed in findingthat Holladay had not ada

pted so as to function in eve ryday life. F or example, the district court’ s finding of defic its with respect to social skills is s upported, inter a lia, by his propensity

to eng ag e in sexual acts with animals (and his failure to unde rstand the stra ng eness ther eof) , his inappropriate attitude toward w omen (e .g ., peeping ), his inappropriate social c onversations, and stepping too c lose to others. And the district court’s findingof def icits with respec t to health and saf ety is supported, inter alia, by Holladay ’s re ckless fr olicking a round trains a

nd train trac ks (appa

rently without realizing the dang er) , his tendency

to run from police (e.g . he g ot shot severa l times), and his episode with the enema (and his see ming lac k of emba rra ssment or ability

to clean it up). 38IV. CONCLUSION

Insu m , we can no t co nc lu de th atth e d is tri ctco urt cl earl y erre d i n fi nd in g t ha t Hol la da y ha d s ho wn h e was m en ta ll y ret ard edun de r th e te stut il iz edby the Alab am a co urts . Accor di ng ly, th e jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ctco urt h ol di ng th at Hol la da y is ex em ptfro m ex ecu ti on pu rs ua ntto Atk in s, en joi ni ng th e ex ecu ti on , an d g ran ti ng th e wri t o f habe as co rp us is AFFIRMED . Howev er, the st ay en te red by the di st ric t co urt i s co nt inue d u nt il th e ex pi rat io n o f th e ti m e fo r fi li ng cert io rari , an d i f fi le d, u nt il th e en su in g p ro ceed in gs in th e Supr em e Co urt ar e fi na ll y res ol ve d.

39