One of the most commonly discussed legal defenses is temporary insanity. While this legal concept may sound unfamiliar to the average person, it’s important to understand what it actually means and how it is used in court.
How Does Temporary Insanity Work?
The legal principle of temporary insanity, also known as “insanity of the moment,” is when a mentally disturbed person temporarily lacks the capacity to distinguish between right and wrong. If proven in court, the person can be found not guilty by reason of a mental disorder or mental disease.
In a criminal trial, temporary insanity usually arises when the defendant does not dispute the facts of the trial, but rather, claims that they were not in control of their actions due to a mental illness. The defense of temporary insanity is rare, but in some cases, it can be an effective strategy.
Examples of Temporary Insanity
In the modern legal world, the case of John Hinckley Jr. (who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981) is perhaps the most widely known example of a plea of temporary insanity. Although he was found not guilty by reason of insanity, he was then committed to a mental institution.
In another case, the defense of temporary insanity was used by a student in California who had killed a professor in 1988, claiming he was mentally ill at the time of the crime. The jury ultimately believed the defense and acquitted him of murder.
Conclusion
Overall, understanding the concept of temporary insanity is important in order to understand the criminal justice system. While this legal principle is rare, it has been used successfully in certain cases, and is one of many defenses available to defendants in criminal trials.