Riggins v. Nevada
| Riggins v. Nevada | |
|---|---|
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| Argued January 15, 1992 Decided May 18, 1992 |
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| Full case name | Riggins v. Nevada |
| Citations | 504 U.S. 127 (more) |
| Prior history | Certiorari to the Supreme Court of Nevada |
| Holding | |
| The forcible medication of the petitioner on trial violated his rights guaranteed by the Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments. | |
| Court membership | |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | O'Connor, joined by Rehnquist, White, Blackmun, Stevens Souter |
| Concurrence | Kennedy |
| Dissent | Thomas, joined by Scalia |
| Laws applied | |
| U.S. Const. amends. VI, XIV | |
Riggins v. Nevada, 504 U.S. 127 (1992) is a U.S. Supreme Court case in which the court decided whether a mentally ill person can be forced to take antipsychotic medication while they are on trial to allow the state to make sure they remain competent during the trial.
David Riggins went to the Nevada apartment of a man, Wade, who was later found stabbed to death. Approximately two days later, Riggins was arrested for the capital murder and robbery of Wade. After his arrest he complained of hearing voices and sleeplessness, telling the jail psychiatrist that he had taken Mellaril in the past. The psychiatrist prescribed him increasing doses of Mellaril at Riggins' request, until Riggins was taking 800 milligrams a day, considered a very high dose of that medication.
Riggins was evaluated and found competent to stand trial, with one of the three evaluating psychiatrists dissenting. Riggins stated he planned to present an insanity defense and requested that the Mellaril be discontinued until after the trial so that the jury would see his mental state first hand rather than be given a false impression induced by the medication, which would deny him due process. The court heard testimony from three psychiatrists with differing opinions and then gave a one-page decision denying Riggins' request but giving no rationale for the denial. Riggins testified on his own behalf during the trial, claiming that Wade was trying to kill him and that voices in his head told him that killing Wade was justified as self-defense. The jury found Riggins guilty of murder and robbery with a deadly weapon, and sentenced him to death.
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