The Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984 amended the United States federal laws governing defendants with mental diseases or defects to make it significantly more difficult to obtain a verdict of not guilty only by reason of insanity. 
Defendants are exculpated only if "at the time of the commission of the acts constituting the offense ... as the result of a severe mental disease or defect, they are unable to appreciate the nature and quality or wrongfulness of their acts"
Def has burden of proving insanity by "clear & convincing evidence." Experts are prohibited from testifying directly as to whether the def was legally sane or not, but can only testify as to their mental health & capacities, fact-finder decides
The federal law making an insanity defense more difficult passed in the wake of public outrage after John Hinckley, Jr.'s acquittal by reason of insanity for his attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan.
By the way - constant lying & cover-ups make it impossible to claim "I didn't know I was doing something wrong." Acting in a way to show consciousness of guilt is a real thing and it's really evidence. And Trump would be screwed.
Trump says he's crazy but it is no defense to his crimes
Trump has been mentally unstable for years with a cornucopia of personality disorders & criminal inclinations rolled into 1 monsterous blob.
How much longer?
tick tick tick
#JusticeIsComing
Trump has been mentally unstable for years with a cornucopia of personality disorders & criminal inclinations rolled into 1 monsterous blob.
How much longer?
tick tick tick
#JusticeIsComing
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
