Indiana Supreme Court Clears Way for First State Execution in 15 Years

Joseph Corcoran's execution is scheduled for December 18 despite arguments about his mental competency and constitutional concerns.

The Indiana Supreme Court has denied a stay of execution for Joseph Corcoran, convicted of killing four people, including his brother, in 1997.
Corcoran, who has been on death row since 1999, is set to be executed on December 18, marking Indiana's first execution since 2009.
His attorneys argue that Corcoran, diagnosed with severe paranoid schizophrenia, is not mentally competent to understand the punishment he is facing.
In a handwritten affidavit, Corcoran stated he does not wish to continue appeals, accepts his guilt, and is ready to face execution.
Indiana recently resumed executions after acquiring the sedative pentobarbital, which had been unavailable for years, halting capital punishment in the state.