ADOC says death row inmate’s execution delayed for competency evaluation

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Alabama Department of Corrections says the execution of an inmate has been delayed for a mental health evaluation.

On July 10, ADOC said the Marion County Circuit Court delayed the execution of David Lee Roberts. He was previously scheduled to be executed on August 21, pending the completion of an Alabama Department of Mental Health evaluation to determine Roberts’ competency to be executed.

The state of Alabama agreed with the need for a competency evaluation, pursuant to Section 15-16-23 of the Code of Alabama, provided that the competency evaluation on an expedited basis.

However, ADOC said ADMH is currently in the process of conducting the evaluation and preparing a written report for submission, but it will not be completed by August 21.

ADOC said it understands that the State will not challenge the stay of execution until after the Marion County Circuit Court receives the written ADMH report of Roberts’ competency evaluation.

As a result, the ADOC said it expects that the execution scheduled for August 21 will not occur on that date. Accordingly, the Department has paused all preparations for Roberts’s currently scheduled execution.