Michigan’s Ruling That Redefines Youth & Justice In April 2025, the Michigan Supreme Court made a groundbreaking decision. The court held that mandatory life-without-parole sentences for 19- and 20-year-olds convicted of murder violate the state constitution. The justices concluded that imposing such punishment without considering an offender’s youth and capacity for change is “grossly disproportionate.” This ruling is significant. The court relied on scientific evidence sh

How Civil Courts Handle Psychological Injury & Emotional Distress Psychological injury and emotional distress claims sit at the intersection of psychology and U.S. civil law. Unlike physical injuries, harms such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression must be clearly defined and linked to the defendant’s conduct to be compensable. These injuries are generally stress‑related conditions arising from real or reasonably perceived threats significant enough to be recognized in litigation.

The Role and Challenges of Psychological Testing Psychological testing, including standardized cognitive, personality, neuropsychological, or malingering assessments, is widely endorsed in theory as a key component of court ordered forensic evaluations. Such tests are valued because they can provide norm referenced, empirically grounded data that help answer legal questions, e.g. about a person’s competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, psychological impairment, or

The Legal Spotlight: Gunman Found Guilty After Failed Insanity Plea In a recent Colorado case, a mass shooter attempted an insanity defense, but jurors rejected it and convicted him. The verdict underscores a long-standing reality: despite media portrayals, insanity pleas are infrequent and rarely successful. Research shows that the defense is raised in fewer than 1% of felony cases, and of those, only about 0.25% lead to acquittals. Even then, defendants almost never go free

The Legal Spotlight: Disability Rights North Carolina vs. North Carolina DHHS In April 2024, Disability Rights North Carolina and the ACLU-NC sued the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, alleging the state delays mental health evaluations and treatment for those unable to assist in their defense. Plaintiffs say such delays, averaging 68 days for evaluations  and over five months for treatment , are unacceptable. This case is an example of the U.S. competen