South Carolina’s Execution of Stephen Bryant Raises Serious Questions About Justice and Brain Damage Evidence

Stephen Bryant stands on the brink of execution in South Carolina, accused of chilling crimes against multiple victims. But his case exposes a deeper problem that America must confront: Are we allowing justice to be sacrificed in the name of expediency—especially when critical evidence about mental impairment is ignored? How Can We Ignore Brain Damage Tied to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder? Bryant’s attorneys argue that the court never fully considered how his brain was damaged before birth due to his mother’s drug and alcohol use during pregnancy. This condition, known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), can profoundly diminish impulse...