A mentally disabled man from Florida may be put to death, despite a Supreme Court ruling that bars the execution of people with intellectual disabilities.

Sixty-eight year old Freddy Lee Hall has been on Death Row since 1978, when he was convicted for the murder of Karol Hurst, a 21-year-old pregnant woman. He was also charged with killing a sheriff's deputy.

Hall's guilt in the crime is not up for dispute. However, his mental capability should grant him protection from execution.

Hall is illiterate and unable to hold conversations with lawyers. He continuously scores between 69 and 80 on IQ exams. In 1991, psychiatrists and medical professionals came to the conclusion that Hall was "mentally retarded" and had been for his entire life.

In the 2002 Supreme Court case Atkins v Virginia, the court ruled against the execution of people with what was then referred to as mental retardation. However, Hall still remains on Death Row due to Florida's rigid test on determining mental disability.

In 2007, the Florida Supreme Court concluded that for a person to be considered mentally disabled, they must score below 70 on an IQ exam. Yet, psychologists are critical of Florida's ruling, saying that IQ tests are insufficient in judging mental disability. Florida's regulatory code also dictates that a person with an IQ as high as 75 can receive state aid for intellectual disability.

The Supreme Court will examine Hall's case on March 3, and their ruling can have significant ramifications for the future. Five states including Florida use an IQ cutoff of 70 or below to determine mental disability. Other states such as Idaho and Texas, have more flexible criteria.

If the Supreme Court rules Hall's execution to be legal, then other states will be given the green light to put men like Hall to death, undermining the protections granted from the Atkins decision.