Inmate With Mental Illness Should Have Been Given a Lawyer

An Illinois federal court failed to consider an inmate’s mental illness, previous attempts to find counsel, and the complexity of his claims when it rejected his requests to appoint him a lawyer, the Seventh Circuit ruled Tuesday.

Inmate Shawn Eagan suffered from mental illnesses including depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. While on suicide watch, he began banging his head against the wall to quiet screams in his head. Dr. Michael Dempsey initially declined to give him Haldol—a strong schizophrenia medication—but ordered emergency injections after Eagan began banging his head again after suffering a wound on his forehead.

According to Eagan, ...