An attorney says this to a judge in a civil commitment case: "Your honor, the Supreme Court in 1979 ruled that we cannot deny people their liberty by committing them to mental institutions involuntarily unless we have 'clear and convincing evidence' that they are mentally ill and potentially dangerous." What Supreme Court ruling is the attorney referring to?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The attorney is referring to the Supreme Court ruling in Addington v. Texas, which established the "clear and convincing evidence" standard for civil commitment cases.

An Attorney Says This to a Judge in a Civil