Zack has just pled not guilty by reason of insanity to killing his parents and his brother. He was arrested walking down the street without any clothes on with dried blood all over him. He has always been an introvert, and people used to call him names and say that he was crazy. Over the past couple of years, Zack has had a lot of black-out type situations where he doesn't remember the days before he finds himself somewhere unfamiliar doing something strange.
-Zack has spent the better part of two years in a locked psychiatric facility awaiting trial. He feels ill from the medicine they make him take, he doesn't recognize the man that they say is his attorney and now he cannot remember his full name. At this point what is Zack's most important legal issue at trial

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Zack's most important legal issue at trial would be his mental competency, as he has pled not guilty by reason of insanity and his black-out type situations suggest a potential mental health issue. This issue would need to be evaluated by a mental health professional to determine if he was capable of understanding the charges against him and assisting in his own defense. The other options (A) his forced treatment and medicine, (C) compulsory process, and (D) adequate legal representation may also be important, but would likely be secondary to the issue of mental competency.

Zack Has Just Pled Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity