'Babbling idiot' standard: Squeaky Fromme competency tapes unveiled

Who of my generation can forget Lynnette "Squeaky" Fromme, the first woman to attempt to assassinate a U.S. president? Today, almo...

Psychologist whistleblower awarded $1 million; fired after testifying about state hospital's competency restoration program

In an unprecedented case, a civil jury has awarded $1 million in damages to a psychologist who was retaliated against after she challenged ...

8-year prison term in long-running Ayres saga

The up-and-down case of a child psychiatrist who sexually molested boys sent to him by the courts for counseling has finally concluded -- at...

SCOTUS: No right to competency in habeas cases

In April, I blogged about the legal controversy over whether a convicted prisoner awaiting execution has a right to be competent during the...

Ayres case: Final act in long-running competency drama?

Notorious psychiatrist found fit for trial on molestation charges The case has all of the elements of high drama: A once-respected child psy...

Double murderer gets death in crude parody of justice

"Ha-ha." That was the reaction of a double murderer to today's jury verdict sentencing him to death. Representing himself at t...

Sanity opinions show "poor" reliability, study finds

Independent evaluators agree only about half the time  Did you hear the one about the JetBlue pilot who suddenly began rambling incoherently...

Civil capacity assessment comes of age

What do these three situations have in common? A young adult with chronic schizophrenia refuses medication because she believes she is being...