Weekly Crime Poll: High Profile Cases and Insanity Pleas

In January 2011, Jared Lee Loughner plead not guilty to federal charges of attempting to assassinate U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the attempted murder of two others. Considering past reports of Loughner's mental state, his attorney, public defender Judy Clarke, will likely use mental illness as a defense so that Loughner cannot be given the death penalty.

Most states have laws against executing the mentally ill. But how tough is it for a lawyer to prove that their client is mentally insane?

Poll: Do judges and juries tend to ignore mental illness evidence in high profile cases?

1) Yes
2) No
3) Undecided

See also:Infamous Defendants Who Plead Insanity

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