High Court to Consider if States Can Abolish Insanity Defense (1)

A convicted murderer who wasn’t allowed to present an insanity defense under Kansas law will get to make his case at the U.S. Supreme Court.

The justices on March 18 granted review of Kraig Kahler’s case against the state. It will be argued next term, which begins in October.

Beyond just his case, Kahler says the insanity defense is one that will continue to be raised in court due to the unfortunate prevalence of mental illness.

Kahler was sentenced to death for killing four family members “while suffering from depression so severe that he experienced extreme emotional disturbance, dissociating him ...