Beth Karas

I wrote my high school graduation paper on the insanity plea. And at the time, I graduated in 2010 from high school. So that one, at the time, I think in my paper, it was most of the time the insanity plea did not work. I think was the conclusion.

I wrote my high school graduation paper on the insanity plea. And at the time, I graduated in 2010 from high school. So that one, at the time, I think in my paper, it was most of the time the insanity plea did not work. I think was the conclusion.

Correct. And you would be right to reach that conclusion. Because when John Hinckley attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan in March of 1981, I was living in D.C. I remember hearing the ambulances, the sirens, because I was working as a paralegal at a law firm. I'm dating myself now. Don't do the math. Anyway, he got off on insanity defense, right? Not guilty by reason of insanity.

Correct. And you would be right to reach that conclusion. Because when John Hinckley attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan in March of 1981, I was living in D.C. I remember hearing the ambulances, the sirens, because I was working as a paralegal at a law firm. I'm dating myself now. Don't do the math. Anyway, he got off on insanity defense, right? Not guilty by reason of insanity.

Correct. And you would be right to reach that conclusion. Because when John Hinckley attempted to assassinate Ronald Reagan in March of 1981, I was living in D.C. I remember hearing the ambulances, the sirens, because I was working as a paralegal at a law firm. I'm dating myself now. Don't do the math. Anyway, he got off on insanity defense, right? Not guilty by reason of insanity.

And that really upset legislators, federal, state, around the country. And my understanding is that state legislators started really shoring up their insanity defense, saying, okay, we're going to make it really hard. We don't want it to be so easy to get off. And go to a civilly committed facility. Right. But there are, I think, four states that don't even have an insanity defense.

And that really upset legislators, federal, state, around the country. And my understanding is that state legislators started really shoring up their insanity defense, saying, okay, we're going to make it really hard. We don't want it to be so easy to get off. And go to a civilly committed facility. Right. But there are, I think, four states that don't even have an insanity defense.

And that really upset legislators, federal, state, around the country. And my understanding is that state legislators started really shoring up their insanity defense, saying, okay, we're going to make it really hard. We don't want it to be so easy to get off. And go to a civilly committed facility. Right. But there are, I think, four states that don't even have an insanity defense.

And Idaho was one of them. Oh. My recollection is Idaho doesn't even have an insanity defense.

And Idaho was one of them. Oh. My recollection is Idaho doesn't even have an insanity defense.

And Idaho was one of them. Oh. My recollection is Idaho doesn't even have an insanity defense.

I think the only case that I'm familiar with off the top of my head is Andrea Yates.

I think the only case that I'm familiar with off the top of my head is Andrea Yates.

I think the only case that I'm familiar with off the top of my head is Andrea Yates.

I think she... Yeah, I was at her second trial. That was in Houston. She killed, she drowned her five kids. Well, let me just say, because in Idaho... Because Lori and Chad Debo tried in Idaho and the doomsday for the killing of her kids and his wife and whatever. And I just remember researching it like they don't have an insanity defense.

I think she... Yeah, I was at her second trial. That was in Houston. She killed, she drowned her five kids. Well, let me just say, because in Idaho... Because Lori and Chad Debo tried in Idaho and the doomsday for the killing of her kids and his wife and whatever. And I just remember researching it like they don't have an insanity defense.

I think she... Yeah, I was at her second trial. That was in Houston. She killed, she drowned her five kids. Well, let me just say, because in Idaho... Because Lori and Chad Debo tried in Idaho and the doomsday for the killing of her kids and his wife and whatever. And I just remember researching it like they don't have an insanity defense.

They could still you could still introduce evidence of someone's mental state, but it's not a defense. OK, so Andrea Yates.

They could still you could still introduce evidence of someone's mental state, but it's not a defense. OK, so Andrea Yates.

They could still you could still introduce evidence of someone's mental state, but it's not a defense. OK, so Andrea Yates.