A quick note on 'not competent to stand trial'.

[tekisui]

Not competent to stand trial is not a verdict, it is a procedural finding. It does not necessarily prevent a trial from occurring, but delays it until the suspect is found competent to stand trial through treatment. If that day never comes, the suspect is not allowed to go free, they stay institutionalized.

It does not preclude a guilty verdict. It is different than 'not guilty by reason of insanity', which is a verdict.

[Shagbark Hickory]

1. So rare to find such a calm voice of reason so early in the moring. nt

[roguevalley]

10. it is shocking how mental illness is ignored in this country. Prisons

are filled with them and so are our streets.

[aikoaiko]

2. So you're saying this is a conspiracy to subvert justice; Loughton will never get his day in court!!

I keed. I keed.

[MindPilot]

3. Remember that Judge Burns is a conservative.

He has demonstrated in the past that he is not afraid to let that influence his rulings.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Damn, Skippy. Why are you standing in the way of a good conspiracy theory?

[obxhead]

5. Thank you.

Clear and concise.

Some of the comments I've read on DU about this subject truly AMAZE me.

[TexasProgresive]

6. I looove the sound of reason

in the morning.

[GeorgeGist]

7. Let me get this straight.

If treatment is successful, then the suspect can stand trial, be convicted and then executed.

[tekisui]

9. Correct.

His council would still likely invoke the insanity defense, but it would not necessarily be successful.

Competency to stand trial is purely procedural.

[rug]

8. Furthermore, a defendant must be determined to be sane before he can plead insanity.