Jared Loughner Ruled Incompetent to Stand Trial

By Jeralyn, Section Crime in the News
Posted on Wed May 25, 2011 at 07:36:27 PM EST
Tags: Jared Loughner (all tags)

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The experts and the Judge agree: Jared Loughner is mentally incompetent to stand trial.

What's next? He goes to the federal medical center at Springfield, MO for up to four months where they will medicate him and try to make him competent. If it works, he'll stand trial. If not:

If he isn't deemed competent at the end of his treatment, Loughner's stay at the facility can be extended. There are no limits on the number of times such extensions can be granted.

If the Judge decides at some point it's unlikely he can be restored to competency, the charges could be dismissed. He's still unlikely to be released. [More...]

In that case, state and federal authorities can petition to have Loughner civilly committed and could seek to extend that commitment repeatedly, said Heather Williams, a federal public defender in Tucson who isn't involved in the Loughner case.

Incompetency is not the same thing as insanity. Incompetency means he can't understand the nature of the charges, the proceedings or assist in his own defense.

According to the AP, Loughner apparently thinks Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is dead. He had an outburst and court and seemed to say that. The AP has ordered a transcript.

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Jared Loughner Ruled Incompetent to Stand Trial | 5 comments (5 topical)

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I respectfully disagree with (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by CoralGables on Wed May 25, 2011 at 07:59:06 PM EST

your last paragraph.

"Loughner apparently thinks Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is dead. He had an outburst (in) court and seemed to say that."

From the transcript I read he never used anyone's name and people are assuming they know what he meant. That's where bad reporting gets started. It's never good to assume what a diagnosed schizophrenic is talking about.

Note to self: (5.00 / 1) (#3)
by andgarden on Wed May 25, 2011 at 08:10:18 PM EST

Do not read the Yahoo! News comments section. Do not read the Yahoo! News comments section. Do not read the Yahoo! News comments section. Do not read the Yahoo! News comments section. Do not read the Yahoo! News comments section.

Phew!

On a serious note: this does not surprise me in the slightest.

I make that mistake on occasion . . . (5.00 / 0) (#4)
by nycstray on Thu May 26, 2011 at 02:12:03 AM EST

scares the crap outta me every time. oy.


: For the very same reason (5.00 / 0) (#5)
by Nemi on Thu May 26, 2011 at 06:11:35 AM EST

scares the crap outta me
plus pure disgust, I've stopped reading comments to any and all newspaper articles. I'll raise your oy with an eww.

And now, (none / 0) (#1)
by NYShooter on Wed May 25, 2011 at 07:40:41 PM EST

those who know the least will shout the loudest.

Let the flaming begin.