Loughner's mental competency hearing likely to be nothing more than a formality

[cali]

Loughner's Mental Competence Is Doubted

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By JOHN R. EMSHWILLER And TAMARA AUDI

Two federal court filings Monday in the criminal case of the man accused in the January shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others in Tucson, Ariz., strongly suggest that two health professionals who evaluated his mental state have determined he isn't competent to stand trial, according to legal experts.

The filings, one by the defense and one by the prosecution, indicate that a competency hearing for Jared Loughner scheduled in a Tucson federal court for May 25 could largely be a formality. Both filings agreed that the two doctors who evaluated Mr. Loughner wouldn't need to testify. The filings also said neither side would dispute the doctors' written reports.

If these reports, which are under seal, hadn't concluded Mr. Loughner was incompetent to stand trial, the defense would almost certainly be planning to put up a fight, experts said.

"My initial gut reaction would be that both have found him not competent to stand trial," said Kurt Altman, a former assistant U.S. attorney in the Phoenix office who isn't involved in the case. Mr. Altman said defense lawyers wouldn't object to a finding of incompetence since it would delay Mr. Loughner's trial. Mr. Loughner could face the death penalty.

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http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703509104576328100954614650.html

[jpak]

1. Not competent to stand trial but competent enough to buy a semi-auto pistol and a 30 round clip

yup

[atreides1]

2. Two extended magazines

Not one...

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GeorgeGist]

8. So you think he's sane.

yup

[LiberalAndProud]

4. Any ideas where he'll be incarcerated pending improved mental health?

He'll be locked up and medicated until he's fit to stand trial. I wonder where.

[MilesColtrane]

6. Just a guess, but I'd say the Arizona Community Protection and Treatment Center.

I think it's in or near the Arizona State Hospital in Phoenix.

[Aerows]

5. I read some things he posted on a forum before this happened

He had multiple people on the forum advising him to seek professional help, and he certainly sounded absolutely looney tunes to me. I'm not really all that surprised by this outcome. He had a lot of signs of being very unstable, but unfortunately, he didn't get help before he went on a rampage and killed/injured all of those poor people.

I wish someone would have intervened in his life before he took the lives and the health of so many others.

[elocs]

7. Because someone is mentally ill does not mean they are a moron.

Mental illness has nothing to do with intelligence, but it does have everything to do with delusion. The odds are likely that more than a few DUers are likely mentally ill because it knows no bounds, not Democrat or Republican, rich or poor, idiot or genius.

It's interesting to read here at DU how the tables turn on this case. Had Loughner shot a well known Republican and one who was hated here then the overwhelming opinion would be that he was clearly mentally ill. It's quite easy to hold rock solid moral opinions in the abstract, a bit harder in the actual.