Legal Push to Save Mentally Ill Indiana Death Row Inmate Gains Momentum

FORT WAYNE, Ind. WPTA – Lawyers representing Joseph Corcoran, an Indiana death row inmate, are making a final effort to save his life.

Corcoran’s legal team has filed for a stay of execution, citing his severe mental illness. Indiana should not execute people who are seriously mentally ill, and Mr. Corcoran falls into this category, said Joanna Green, one of his attorneys.

Rev. Crystal Walker joined a protest at the Indiana Statehouse, opposing the death penalty and Corcoran’s execution. While his crimes were horrendous, no human has the right to take another’s life, she said.

Corcoran has been diagnosed with severe mental illnesses, including psychosis, cognitive dysfunction, and schizophrenia, by six different doctors. Green emphasized that executing him would not benefit the state, adding, “Indiana hasn’t carried out an execution in 15 years, and we believe this should continue.”

IU law professor Jody Madeira explained that stays of execution are granted on a case-by-case basis. Speaking on Corcoran’s condition, she noted, He cannot distinguish between reality and delusions. If someone cannot rationally understand their execution or assist in their defense, it fails to meet the standards of a just execution.”

Corcoran’s attorneys urge Indiana citizens to voice their opposition to the execution, which they argue does not reflect the state’s values.

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