Principally what had changed, according to the Court's ruling, was the "evolving standard of decency" : since Penry, 18 states ruled against use of execution for people with mental retardation.

就法院的裁决看，主要的变化是“道德标准在演进”：自penry案起，18个州否决了对精神发育迟滞者施用死刑。

youdao

This means that Mr Penry could end up with a reprieve from the state that tried to execute him even before the mighty Supreme Court up in Washington has had a chance to say what it thinks.

ECONOMIST: Death penalty