October Term 2005 · Docket 05-5966
Can states limit insanity defense evidence?
Eric Clark argues Arizona barred relevant mental state evidence. The state claims it controls the insanity defense definition.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
David Goldberg argued Clark lost his fair trial right. He stated Arizona law required proof of intent.
General Clement argued Arizona's law is constitutional. He stated the state controls the defense definition.
Justice Kennedy asked if the state deemed testimony irrelevant. He sought clarification on the state's position.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 45-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests state power to define insanity. It also tests limits on mental state evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 45-29
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 19, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
Clark wants the Court to strike down Arizona's insanity law. He seeks to admit his mental state evidence.
Arizona wants the Court to uphold its insanity law. It seeks to keep mental state evidence excluded.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 45-29
What each side says
Clark argues Arizona violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights. He claims the state barred relevant evidence.
Arizona argues it has discretion to define the insanity defense. It claims the Constitution allows this choice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 45-29
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked about the name guilty except insane. She questioned what specific crime Clark committed.
Justice Breyer asked if Clark knew right from wrong. He questioned the cognitive element of the defense.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-45
Why it matters
This case defines state control over criminal defenses. It shapes how courts handle mental illness evidence. It impacts future insanity defense trials nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 45-29
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-45
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 45-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 23-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 45-29
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.