Insanity Defense | featured news

The judge in the case of James E. Holmes, after having laid the groundwork for Mr. Holmes to plead not guilty by reason of insanity, denied requests by defense lawyers for more time.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned down an opportunity to consider whether states can ban the insanity defense in criminal cases. Most states permit a defendant to claim the defense of not guilty by reason of insanity.

A Norwegian court ruled Friday that far-right gunman Anders Behring Breivik was sane, deciding he was criminally responsible for the massacre of 77 people last summer.

Attorneys for mass murder suspect James Holmes told a district judge Thursday that their client is mentally ill, setting the stage for an insanity defense for the man charged with murdering 12 people and injuring 58 in a movie theater rampage.