The curious case from 1896 of the surgeon who defied a court order for reasons that are not entirely known.
Read MoreDue to the landmark legal decision in Ake v. Oklahoma (1985), states are required to provide access to psychologists if a person’s mental health is going to be a factor at trial or sentencing and the person couldn’t otherwise afford to hire one privately.
Read MoreDr. Grigson was hired to conduct a pretrial competency evaluation in 1973. The case involved Ernest Smith, who was arrested for participating in an armed robbery where an accomplice killed a grocery store clerk. Dr. Grigson reported that Mr. Smith was competent to stand trial and he labeled Mr. Smith a "severe sociopath."
Read MoreA 2005 decision by the US Supreme Court makes it unconstitutional to execute anyone who committed murder prior to the age of 18. The details of the groundbreaking case of Roper v. Simmons are summarized here.
Read MoreCooper v. Oklahoma (1996) is the United States Supreme Court decision that forced states to uniformly adopt the “preponderance of evidence” standard for criminal competency hearing.
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