Revisiting the deific-decree doctrine in Washington state.
The deific-decree exception to Washington's M'Naughten insanity standard first appeared in case law a quarter century ago in State v. Crenshaw. A few subsequent cases have attempted to refine the contours of the deific decree; however, the deific-decree doctrine has had only limited utility as a basis for the insanity defense. After about a decade of no activity in this area, the Washington courts have recently revisited the deific-decree doctrine in a case involving two defendants.
Leong
Gregory B
GB
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA. leonggb@dshs.wa.gov
D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense; D033182:Intention; D009042:Motivation; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D014861:Washington