In 1979, public opinion turned against the use of the insanity defense when it was used successfully to justify such behaviors as _________________.

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In 1979, public opinion turned against the use of the insanity defense particularly due to the case of Dan White, who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter instead of first-degree murder for the assassinations of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, after his lawyers argued he suffered from diminished capacity due to depression. This event, known as the "Twinkie defense," significantly impacted public opinion, although the choices provided do not directly relate to this case. The closest related option, given the context of public opinion and legal defenses, is writing bad checks, as it represents a form of behavior that could be argued in court as a result of mental illness, reflecting the broader controversy over the insanity defense during that period.

In 1979, Public Opinion Turned Against the Use of the Insanity