Steven Bixby, a 58-year-old South Carolina man on death row, is asserting that the judges ruling against him are guided by Satan and that the majority of laws are unconstitutional. This claim comes as he attempts to avoid execution, which was initially scheduled for May 2023 but was delayed by the state Supreme Court to determine his mental competency for the death penalty. Bixby’s legal filings, including handwritten documents, argue that the legal system is flawed and advocate for a reversal of his conviction. The state Supreme Court, however, stated that Bixby is considered competent under federal law but requires an additional evaluation under state law, focusing on his ability to rationally communicate with his lawyers.
The case has been under ongoing legal scrutiny, with Bixby’s defense team arguing that his anti-government beliefs and refusal to share information with his lawyers complicate the proceedings. In December 2003, Bixby shot Abbeville County deputy Danny Wilson as the officer knocked on the front door of his parents’ home, part of a larger incident that led to the deaths of two police officers. The Bixby family’s actions resulted in a 12-hour standoff with officers, during which numerous shots were exchanged.
Bixby’s recent legal arguments include handwritten papers expressing frustration with the legal process, claiming that the state constitution allows those accused of crimes to be fully heard. He also suggested that the judge would commit treason if he failed to stop his execution and free him from custody. Despite his claims, Bixby’s legal filings do not offer new reasoning accepted by judges, and the state’s expert has noted that while his beliefs may make him a difficult client, it does not make him impossible to defend. The case remains under review, with the court set to provide a ruling within 30 days.