State in Interest of Causey
Louisiana Supreme Court
363 So. 2d 472 (1978)
- Written by Angela Patrick, JD
Facts
Sixteen-year-old Pate Causey (defendant) was charged in juvenile court for allegedly participating in an armed robbery. Causey moved for permission to file a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Causey’s attorney also asked the court to have a mental professional evaluate Causey’s mental health, as well as his mental ability and legal competence to assist with his own defense. Several psychologists tested Causey and believed that Causey might suffer from developmental challenges and psychosis. However, the psychologists recommended further evaluation from a psychiatrist. Without seeing the psychologists’ test results or their reports, a psychiatrist interviewed Causey and wrote a report. The court gave Causey’s attorney a copy of the psychiatrist’s report five minutes before a hearing. The report stated that Causey was mentally slow and a liar but that he was not mentally ill or incompetent to help with his defense. At the hearing, the court denied Causey’s motion to raise an insanity defense or to be declared incompetent to assist with his own defense. The ruling was appealed to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Tate, J.)
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