title: Diminished capacity as an alternative to McNaghten in California law.
abstract: Dr. Diamond's courageous defense of the diminished capacity plea in People v. Gorshen (1959) emphasized mental disturbances negating malice aforethought. Diminished capacity as a defense in California remained effective from 1978 to 1982 until overturned by a modified American Law Institute rule. Diamond's advocacy of psychologic elements, including motivation, did much to enliven forensic thinking re: the death sentence and the fated diminished capacity defense.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bromberg
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006708:Homicide / Q000266:history / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense / Q000266:history; D008297:Male; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology