TEXAS — The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Victor Saldaño on Monday. The decision allows a Texas court's ruling to stand, despite claims that Saldaño meets the legal criteria for exemption from the death penalty due to intellectual disability.

The Supreme Court vote was 6-to-3, with three liberal justices dissenting. Saldaño was convicted of murder in Texas in 1996 for a crime committed during a robbery, while he was in the country illegally.

Saldaño's initial legal representation did not introduce the claim of intellectual disability during his trial. His case was later referred to the Texas Office of Capital Forensic Writs. Lawyers at the office determined that Saldaño had an IQ of 74.

Ben Wolff, director of the Texas Office of Capital Forensic Writs, traveled to Argentina to gather information regarding Saldaño, who was raised there. Prosecutors representing the state of Texas later agreed that Saldaño should not be eligible for the death penalty after reviewing the evidence. "Every expert who has evaluated Mr. Saldaño for intellectual disability agrees he's intellectually disabled," Wolff said.

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals disagreed with the assessment that Saldaño was ineligible for execution. Saldaño's legal team subsequently appealed that ruling to the Supreme Court. Wolff said, "The state of Texas, who several years ago sought Mr. Saldaño's execution, now agrees that he meets the criteria for intellectual disability." He added, "It is disappointing that the courts have yet to allow us through the courthouse doors to present what we believe to be overwhelming evidence that Mr. Saldaño is intellectually disabled and, as such, the U.S. Constitution forbids his execution." Saldaño's lawyers stated they will continue to work to prevent his execution.