In the last post, I looked at what it actually means for a defendant to be found “not guilty by reason of insanity”—what the plea does, what it does not do, and how courts think about responsibility when serious mental illness is involved. Here, I want to step back and trace how the legal testsContinueContinue reading “From M’Naghten to Hinckley: How American Courts Rewrote the Insanity Plea”
Author Archives: furthernewsfromtheshire
The Insanity Plea: What It Really Means to Be ‘Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity’
The Rojas Case: Ill or Evil? It was a morning like any other in Times Square: the sidewalks thick with commuters and tourists, the usual weekday rush flowing past the storefronts and billboards. Then, without warning, a burgundy Honda jumped the curb. People screamed and scattered. Some saw bodies thrown onto the hood and windshield;ContinueContinue reading “The Insanity Plea: What It Really Means to Be ‘Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity’”
Windigo: cannibal spirit of the north woods, revisited: stories, syndromes, and changing your mind
Back in 1986, I was a man in transition. I had just finished my Ph.D. at Ferkauf Graduate School in New York City, and a good deal of my training was psychodynamic. That was where the field was at the time. The program also required us to undergo psychotherapy. Ferkauf had an arrangement with theContinueContinue reading “Windigo: cannibal spirit of the north woods, revisited: stories, syndromes, and changing your mind”
When a Seizure Looks Like Assault: Postictal Violence and Criminal Responsibility
The case that landed on my desk The case that landed on my desk seemed straightforward at first glance. A 26‑year‑old college graduate and former Marine had broken an emergency medical technician’s nose with a single punch after she responded to a late‑night call at his home. A few familiar scenarios came to mind: anContinueContinue reading “When a Seizure Looks Like Assault: Postictal Violence and Criminal Responsibility”
The Great British Baking Show vs. the World According to Hollie Noveletsky
Recently, my wife and I have been binge watching “The Great British Baking Show.” I know we are late to the game, but better late than never. It may be the second greatest televised spectator sport ever. The best in NFL football. Both allow you to look up from your laptop browsing now and againContinueContinue reading “The Great British Baking Show vs. the World According to Hollie Noveletsky”
You’re Welcome, New Hampshire: Bail, Theater, and the Myth of the Fix
In New Hampshire politics, there is nothing quite like a good victory lap. Recently we have seen leaders step up to the podium, flanked by law enforcement, and declare that their bail changes have “made us safer” because crime is down. The photo ops are impressive. I first heard about New Hampshire’s “fixed” bail systemContinueContinue reading “You’re Welcome, New Hampshire: Bail, Theater, and the Myth of the Fix”
To Hell With Brand Narratives: Eat Trout
Kay and I and the Machatunim were staying at the Carton House in Maynooth, Ireland. Wikipedia describes it better than I could: Carton House is a country house and surrounding demesne that was the ancestral seat of the Earls of Kildare and Dukes of Leinster for over 700 years. Located 23 km west of Dublin,ContinueContinue reading “To Hell With Brand Narratives: Eat Trout”
Required Reading, Optional Enjoyment: Great Books, Terrible Assignments, and a Surprising Amount of Batman
The other day, I recalled something Eddie Izzard, the comedian, said in his memoir. He was talking about how Paul McCartney wanted to play some songs on the piano, so he just sat down and taught himself. An impressive feat, but Izzard added an interesting insight. He said that part of the reason Paul wasContinueContinue reading “Required Reading, Optional Enjoyment: Great Books, Terrible Assignments, and a Surprising Amount of Batman”
15 Minutes of Fame: MSBP and Me
I never set out to be “the MSBP guy.” For a few years, though, if there was a high-profile Munchausen by proxy case in the news, there was a decent chance I’d end up on a plane, in a courtroom, or in front of a camera talking about it. Back in 1998, I had aContinueContinue reading “15 Minutes of Fame: MSBP and Me”
Grand Juries, Secret Evidence, and the Comey Case
Sometimes it’s a shock to realize that I have been working as a psychologist in the legal system for over 35 years. I’ve been a psychologist for longer than that but that was as a school psychologist and psychotherapist. I’m not a lawyer, but I do work closely with them, and you can’t spend decadesContinueContinue reading “Grand Juries, Secret Evidence, and the Comey Case”
Samurai Shrink (formally Wandering Shrink) 