On December 11, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reversed a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that had granted relief to death row inmate Scott Cheever. The Kansas court had held that Cheever’s 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination had been violated because testimony was given at his sentencing hearing by a psychiatrist who examined Cheever pursuant to a court order. Cheever had claimed he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crime. The psychiatrist testified that his “antisocial personality,” rather than his drug use, explained his crime. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for the Court, said, “[W]here a defense expert who has examined the defendant testifies that the defendant lacked the requisite mental state to commit an offense, the prosecution may present psychiatric evidence in rebuttal.” Since Cheever was relying on his mental state for his defense, the prosecution was entitled to present contrary evidence on his mental state. In an earlier case, the Court had ruled psychiatric statements could not be used against a defendant who “neither initiates a psychiatric evaluation nor attempts to introduce any psychiatric evidence.”

(D. Savage, “Supreme Court restores death sentence for Kansas murderer,” Los Angeles Times, December 11, 2013). See Supreme Court and Mental Illness. Read the opinion in Kansas v. Cheever.

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