Lincoln Caplan

5470. The Insanity Defense and the Trial of John W. Hinckley, Jr., by Lincoln Caplan (read 13 May 2017) This book, published in 1984, tells of the insanity defense in English and American law and of the trial of John Hinckley, Jr., in 1982 for the shooting of Reagan and three others on 30 Mar 1981. The account of the trial is interestingly told and well explained. Hinckley's main lawyer was Vincent Fuller, who was at Georgetown Law School when I was and I am pretty sure I knew him. When the jury found Hinckley not guilty by reason of insanity there was much outcry and the law in regard to insanity was changed. In Iowa the burden for proving the defense was shifted to the defendant and that was a common change made in many jurisdictions. I certainly agree with the jury's verdict and can understand why they reached it, so far as the information given in the book as to the testimony. Hinckley certainly was insane at the time and nothing would have been gained by finding him sane. He is out of confinement now and is cured so far as anyone can tell. The book is only 125 pages and is worth reading even though it was published over 30 years ago.… (mere)