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The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal by Texas death row inmate Johnny Paul Penry, whose execution was stayed by the Court on November 16. Penry's case is synonymous with the debate about executing defendants with mental retardation, and the Court said it will use the case to clarify how much opportunity jurors in death penalty cases have to consider the defendant's mental capacity. Penry's I.Q. has been tested between 50 and 63, and he has the mental abilities of a six-year old. A ruling in the case is expected by July 2001. Penry's execution is opposed by the leading national associations on mental retardation and by the American Bar Association. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Penry's conviction once before, ruling that his rights were violated because the sentencing jury was not properly allowed to take his mental capacity into account. At retrial, Penry was again sentenced to death.