diminished capacity doctrine (District of Columbia) · Go Syfert
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diminished capacity doctrine in District of Columbia

5 District of Columbia opinions name it 1 courts 1976–2020 0 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by District of Columbia courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (11)

CaseFollowedCited
Bethea v. United Statesgreen
dc · 1976 · cited in 2 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 2008–2013
2 sentences

2013The court thus said it was guarding against “the unrestrained application of the diminished capacity doctrine.” Id.

2013The fact that a defendant would need an expert to put on a diminished capacity defense also weighed on the court: mental illness— unlike intoxication, infancy, and the few other common conditions for which the law is willing to depart from the presumption of capacity — is not “susceptible to quantification or objective demonstration, and to lay understanding.” Id.

12
Degen v. United Statesgreen
scotus · 1996 · cited in 1 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 2020–2020
1 sentence

2020P. 57(b) to compel a mental examination in a case where defendant sought to use her psychiatric expert’s examination findings to support a diminished capacity defense, reasoning that “fundamental fairness” and “judicial common sense” require that the government “be able to follow where the defendant has led” (brackets and internal quotation marks omitted)). 13 that provoke it.” Degen v. United States, 517 U.S. 820, 823-24 (1996).

11
Simmons v. Stategreen
md · 1988 · cited in 1 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 2013–2013
2 sentences

2013See Simmons v. State, 313 Md. 33 , 542 A.2d 1258, 1259 (1988) (holding, in a state without the diminished capacity defense, that it was error for a trial court to exclude as a matter of law expert testimony from a psychiatrist "that her examination of Simmons revealed that he did in fact have such a subjective belief”); but see Bishop v. United States, 107 F.2d 297 ; 301-03 (D.C.Cir.1939) (rejecting defendant’s argument that intoxication defense could be used to establish the mitigating circumstance of adequate provocation because the "heat of passion” standard assumes an "ordinary man,” meani

2013See Simmons v. State, 313 Md. 33 , 542 A.2d 1258, 1259 (1988) (holding, in a state without the diminished capacity defense, that it was error for a trial court to exclude as a matter of law expert testimony from a psychiatrist "that her examination of Simmons revealed that he did in fact have such a subjective belief”); but see Bishop v. United States, 107 F.2d 297 ; 301-03 (D.C.Cir.1939) (rejecting defendant’s argument that intoxication defense could be used to establish the mitigating circumstance of adequate provocation because the "heat of passion” standard assumes an "ordinary man,” meani

11
Clark v. Arizonagreen
scotus · 2006 · cited in 1 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 2008–2008
2 sentences

2008See also Clark v. Arizona, 548 U.S. 735 , 126 S.Ct. 2709 , 165 L.Ed.2d 842 (2006) (holding that Arizona rule that expert testimony about mental disease and incapacity cannot be considered in criminal cases except in the context of an insanity defense does not violate due process); Brown v. Trigg, 791 F.2d 598, 600-601 (7th Cir.1986) (rejecting claim that Indiana trial court’s refusal to admit evidence of mental retardation, because “Indiana does not recognize a diminished capacity defense,” violated defendant’s “constitutional right to rebut the prosecution’s proof on an element of the offense

2008See also Clark v. Arizona, 548 U.S. 735 , 126 S.Ct. 2709 , 165 L.Ed.2d 842 (2006) (holding that Arizona rule that expert testimony about mental disease and incapacity cannot be considered in criminal cases except in the context of an insanity defense does not violate due process); Brown v. Trigg, 791 F.2d 598, 600-601 (7th Cir.1986) (rejecting claim that Indiana trial court’s refusal to admit evidence of mental retardation, because “Indiana does not recognize a diminished capacity defense,” violated defendant’s “constitutional right to rebut the prosecution’s proof on an element of the offense

11
Delores Brown v. Clarence Trigg and Indiana Attorney Generalgreen
ca7 · 1986 · cited in 1 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 2008–2008
1 sentence

2008See also Clark v. Arizona, 548 U.S. 735 , 126 S.Ct. 2709 , 165 L.Ed.2d 842 (2006) (holding that Arizona rule that expert testimony about mental disease and incapacity cannot be considered in criminal cases except in the context of an insanity defense does not violate due process); Brown v. Trigg, 791 F.2d 598, 600-601 (7th Cir.1986) (rejecting claim that Indiana trial court’s refusal to admit evidence of mental retardation, because “Indiana does not recognize a diminished capacity defense,” violated defendant’s “constitutional right to rebut the prosecution’s proof on an element of the offense

11
Stewart v. United Statesgreen
cadc · 1954 · cited in 1 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 1976–1976
2 sentences

1976See, e.g., Stewart v. United States, 94 U.S.App.D.C. 293, 297 , 214 F.2d 879, 883 (1954); Stewart v. United States, 107 U.S.App.D.C. 159 , 166, 275 F.2d 617, 623 (1960) (en banc), rev’d on other grounds, 366 U.S. 1, 81 S.Ct. 941 , 6 L.Ed.2d 84 (1961); Stewart v. United States, 129 U.S.App.D.C. 303, 304-05 , 394 F.2d 778, 779-80 (1968).

1976See, e.g., Stewart v. United States, 94 U.S.App.D.C. 293, 297 , 214 F.2d 879, 883 (1954); Stewart v. United States, 107 U.S.App.D.C. 159 , 166, 275 F.2d 617, 623 (1960) (en banc), rev’d on other grounds, 366 U.S. 1, 81 S.Ct. 941 , 6 L.Ed.2d 84 (1961); Stewart v. United States, 129 U.S.App.D.C. 303, 304-05 , 394 F.2d 778, 779-80 (1968).

11
Willie Lee Stewart v. United Statesgreen
cadc · 1960 · cited in 1 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 1976–1976
1 sentence

1976See, e.g., Stewart v. United States, 94 U.S.App.D.C. 293, 297 , 214 F.2d 879, 883 (1954); Stewart v. United States, 107 U.S.App.D.C. 159 , 166, 275 F.2d 617, 623 (1960) (en banc), rev’d on other grounds, 366 U.S. 1, 81 S.Ct. 941 , 6 L.Ed.2d 84 (1961); Stewart v. United States, 129 U.S.App.D.C. 303, 304-05 , 394 F.2d 778, 779-80 (1968).

11
Walter H. Stewart, Jr. v. United Statesgreen
cadc · 1968 · cited in 1 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 1976–1976
2 sentences

1976See, e.g., Stewart v. United States, 94 U.S.App.D.C. 293, 297 , 214 F.2d 879, 883 (1954); Stewart v. United States, 107 U.S.App.D.C. 159 , 166, 275 F.2d 617, 623 (1960) (en banc), rev’d on other grounds, 366 U.S. 1, 81 S.Ct. 941 , 6 L.Ed.2d 84 (1961); Stewart v. United States, 129 U.S.App.D.C. 303, 304-05 , 394 F.2d 778, 779-80 (1968).

1976See, e.g., Stewart v. United States, 94 U.S.App.D.C. 293, 297 , 214 F.2d 879, 883 (1954); Stewart v. United States, 107 U.S.App.D.C. 159 , 166, 275 F.2d 617, 623 (1960) (en banc), rev’d on other grounds, 366 U.S. 1, 81 S.Ct. 941 , 6 L.Ed.2d 84 (1961); Stewart v. United States, 129 U.S.App.D.C. 303, 304-05 , 394 F.2d 778, 779-80 (1968).

11
United States v. John Edward Smith, Jr.green
ca6 · 1968 · cited in 1 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 1976–1976
1 sentence

1976See S.Rep.No.93-0000 (S-l), 93d Cong., 2d Sess. 107 (1974) ; see also United States v. Smith, supra, 404 F.2d at 727 .

11
United States v. Paul Bradleygreen
cadc · 1972 · cited in 1 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 1976–1976
1 sentence

1976See also United States v. Bradley, 149 U.S.App.D.C. 405 , 463 F.2d 808 (1972); Rouse v. Cameron, 128 U.S.App.D.C. 283 , 387 F.2d 241 (1967).

11
United States v. Gordon Alexander, United States of America v. Benjamin Murdockgreen
cadc · 1973 · cited in 1 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 1976–1976
1 sentence

1976See, e. g., United States v. Alexander, 152 U.S.App.D.C. 371 , 403, 413, 471 F.2d 923, 955, 965 (Bazelon, C.

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (1)

CaseNegativeCited
Bishop v. United Statesgreen
cadc · 1939 · cited in 1 District of Columbia opinions naming this issue, 2013–2013
1 sentence

2013See Simmons v. State, 313 Md. 33 , 542 A.2d 1258, 1259 (1988) (holding, in a state without the diminished capacity defense, that it was error for a trial court to exclude as a matter of law expert testimony from a psychiatrist "that her examination of Simmons revealed that he did in fact have such a subjective belief”); but see Bishop v. United States, 107 F.2d 297 ; 301-03 (D.C.Cir.1939) (rejecting defendant’s argument that intoxication defense could be used to establish the mitigating circumstance of adequate provocation because the "heat of passion” standard assumes an "ordinary man,” meani

11

Also cited on this issue (7)

CaseCitedYears
United States v. Archie W. Brawner green
cadc · 1972
1 sentence

2013Circuit recently had approved of in Brawner, 471 F.2d at 999 .

12013–2013
Heard v. United States green
dc · 1968
1 sentence

1986Heard v. United States, 245 A.2d 125 (D.C.1968).

11986–1986
Russell E. Carter v. United States green
cadc · 1957
1 sentence

1976Id., 153 U.S.App.D.C. at 7, 471 F.2d at 975.

11976–1976
Stewart v. United States green
scotus · 1961
2 sentences

1976See, e.g., Stewart v. United States, 94 U.S.App.D.C. 293, 297 , 214 F.2d 879, 883 (1954); Stewart v. United States, 107 U.S.App.D.C. 159 , 166, 275 F.2d 617, 623 (1960) (en banc), rev’d on other grounds, 366 U.S. 1, 81 S.Ct. 941 , 6 L.Ed.2d 84 (1961); Stewart v. United States, 129 U.S.App.D.C. 303, 304-05 , 394 F.2d 778, 779-80 (1968).

1976See, e.g., Stewart v. United States, 94 U.S.App.D.C. 293, 297 , 214 F.2d 879, 883 (1954); Stewart v. United States, 107 U.S.App.D.C. 159 , 166, 275 F.2d 617, 623 (1960) (en banc), rev’d on other grounds, 366 U.S. 1, 81 S.Ct. 941 , 6 L.Ed.2d 84 (1961); Stewart v. United States, 129 U.S.App.D.C. 303, 304-05 , 394 F.2d 778, 779-80 (1968).

11976–1976
Gorham v. United States green
dc · 1975
1 sentence

1976In Moore , the circuit court rejected an argument for the creation of a drug dependency defense based, inter alia, on the principles of diminished capacity. [We later came to the same conclusion in Gorham v. United States, D.C.App., 339 A.2d 401 (1975) (en banc).] Judge Levanthal’s observations in Moore concerning the constancy of the standards governing criminal responsibility appear to be in conflict with the diminished capacity doctrine earlier embraced in Brawner.

11976–1976
Charles C. Rouse v. Dale C. Cameron, Superintendent, Saint Elizabeths Hospital green
cadc · 1967
2 sentences

1976See also United States v. Bradley, 149 U.S.App.D.C. 405 , 463 F.2d 808 (1972); Rouse v. Cameron, 128 U.S.App.D.C. 283 , 387 F.2d 241 (1967).

1976See also United States v. Bradley, 149 U.S.App.D.C. 405 , 463 F.2d 808 (1972); Rouse v. Cameron, 128 U.S.App.D.C. 283 , 387 F.2d 241 (1967).

11976–1976
United States v. Raymond Moore green
cadc · 1973
2 sentences

1976It was suggested in Moore , however, that there exist “crucial distinctions” between the conditions of drug dependency and those of mental deficiency, e. g., that loss of control as a result of the latter is more suspectible to accurate verification. 158 U.S.App.D.C. at 417-21 , 486 F.2d at 1181-35 .

1976It was suggested in Moore , however, that there exist “crucial distinctions” between the conditions of drug dependency and those of mental deficiency, e. g., that loss of control as a result of the latter is more suspectible to accurate verification. 158 U.S.App.D.C. at 417-21 , 486 F.2d at 1181-35 .

11976–1976

Where else courts name it

CA 178 (1967–2026) PA 141 (1979–2026) WA 114 (1981–2026) NJ 56 (1985–2026) MI 37 (1982–2026) WV 27 (1983–2024) OH 24 (1982–2023) RI 21 (1980–2016) TX 21 (2005–2026) MO 19 (1981–2025) IA 18 (1986–2020) NC 17 (1997–2025) TN 13 (1993–2024) AZ 12 (1995–2024) MS 12 (1984–2023) AL 12 (1986–2016) VT 12 (1989–2021) IL 12 (1993–2024) FL 11 (1989–2024) KS 10 (1984–2012) AK 10 (1977–2007) NM 8 (1996–2025) NV 7 (1996–2026) LA 6 (1987–2007) NY 6 (1982–2006) MA 5 (1990–2025) MD 5 (1982–2012) MN 5 (1988–2008) UT 5 (1982–2015) DC 5 (1976–2020) MT 4 (1978–1981) WY 3 (1983–2020) VA 3 (1992–2023) WI 3 (1985–2002) OR 3 (1978–2020) NE 2 (1995–2018) SC 2 (2006–2010)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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