Alabama execution remains on hold to evaluate whether man is competent

Alabama execution on hold pending competency evaluation MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The scheduled execution of an Alabama death row inmate will not proceed next week as the state awaits the results of a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation. A judge last month halted the planned Aug. A judge halted Roberts’ scheduled Aug. 21 execution, ordering a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether he is mentally competent to be executed. The Alabama Department of Corrections confirmed Friday that the evaluation will not be completed before the scheduled date. Roberts was convicted of capital murder. Jurors narrowly recommended life in prison, but the judge overruled them and imposed the death penalty — a practice Alabama has since abolished. So far this year, 28 people have been executed in the United States, surpassing the 25 executions carried out in both 2018 and 2023. This year’s total is the highest number of executions the United States has recorded since 2015, when 28 people were also put to death. At least nine more executions are scheduled across seven states before year’s end.