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Supreme Court Makes Ruling About Mentally Ill Defendants
19-Jun-2008
Written by: Steve Ruback
Earlier this morning, Supreme Court comes to decision.
The Supreme Court came to a decision earlier today over whether or not defendants with a history of mental illness would have the right to represent themselves in trial. The Associated Press is reporting that the Supreme Court has ultimately decided that regardless of whether or not a mentally ill patient has been ruled competent to stand trial, they will not always have the right to represent themselves.
Seven out of nine Supreme Court justices voted in favor of the proposal that trial judges will have the right to determine if an individual who intends to act as his/her own lawyer needs to be prevented from doing so, according to the Associated Press.
Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer stated within the majority opinion, “The Constitution permits states to insist upon representation by counsel for those competent enough to stand trial . . . but who still suffer from severe mental illness to the point where they are not competent to conduct trial proceedings by themselves.”
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