Supreme Court of Missouri / Jun 8, 2023
State ex rel. Johnny A. Johnson, Petitioner, vs. David Vandergriff, Respondent
Johnny Johnson, a death row inmate, filed an original petition for a writ of habeas corpus, asserting he was incompetent to be executed under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments due to severe mental illness and seeking a stay of execution. The Missouri Supreme Court denied his petition and overruled his motion for a stay. The Court held that Johnson failed to make the "substantial threshold showing of insanity" required by Panetti and Ford to warrant a hearing, finding his expert's opinion lacked credibility. Additionally, the Court ruled that Johnson's mental illness claims were procedurally barred.