Lawyers say man facing execution is intellectually disabled

WASHINGTON – Attorneys for a man facing the federal death penalty want a judge to halt his execution and say their client can’t legally be put to death because he’s intellectually disabled.

Alfred Bourgeois’ lawyers argue in court papers Thursday that a jury was unaware of Bourgeois’ disability and a court never reviewed the evidence.

The Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that executing people with intellectual disabilities is unconstitutional because it is cruel and unusual punishment.

Prosecutors say Bourgeois, of Louisiana, tortured, sexually molested, and then beat his 2 1/2-year-old daughter to death.

Attorney General William Barr resumed the death penalty last month and scheduled executions for the first time since 2003.

Bourgeois is on death row at a federal penitentiary in Indiana. He’s scheduled to be executed Jan. 13.