Case ID: mj_71/html/0404-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

No. 12-0604/NA.
    U.S. v. Richard R. Mott.
   CCA 200900115. Review granted on the following issues:

I. A LACK OF MENTAL RESPONSIBILITY DEFENSE EXISTS WHEN A MENTALLY DISEASED ACCUSED CANNOT APPRECIATE THE WRONGFULNESS OF HIS CONDUCT. HERE, EXPERTS TESTIFIED THAT APPELLANT’S PARANOID SCHIZOPHRENIA AND SEVERE DELUSIONS CREATED HIS SUBJECTIVE BELIEF THAT STABBING THE VICTIM WAS JUSTIFIED. BUT THE MILITARY JUDGE AND NMCCA ADOPTED AN OBJECTIVE STANDARD FOR “WRONGFULNESS.” WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE STANDARD IN DETERMINING WHETHER AN ACCUSED CAN APPRECIATE THE WRONGFULNESS OF HIS CONDUCT?
II. UNDER THE FIFTH AMENDMENT, AN ACCUSED’S STATEMENT TO INVESTIGATORS IS ADMISSIBLE ONLY IF IT WAS OBTAINED WITH A VOLUNTARY, KNOWING, AND INTELLIGENT WAIVER WHERE THE ACCUSED UNDERSTANDS HIS RIGHTS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF WAIVING THEM. HERE, EXPERT WITNESSES TESTIFIED THAT APPELLANT COULD NOT UNDERSTAND HIS RIGHTS OR THE CONSEQUENCES OF WAIVING THEM BECAUSE OF HIS SEVERE MENTAL DISEASE. DID THE MILITARY JUDGE ERR BY ADMITTING THE STATEMENT?

Briefs will be filed under Rule 25.