Landmark Cases
AAPL selects Landmark Cases which it thinks especially important and significant for forensic psychiatry. This list is not officially recognized by the ABPN. AAPL revises the list from time to time. Last revision in 2023.
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CIVIL RIGHTS OF PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS
A. Right to Treatment
- 1. Rouse v. Cameron, 373 F.2d 451 (1966)
- 2. Wyatt v. Stickney, 344 F.Supp. 387 (1972) Audio file:
- 3. Youngberg v. Romeo, 457 U.S. 307, 102 S.Ct. 2452 (1982) Audio file:
B. Right to Refuse Treatment
- 4. Application of President and Directors of Georgetown College Inc., 118 U.S. App. D.C. 80, 331 F.2d 1000 (1964) **, **** Audio file:
- 5. Rennie v. Klein, 720 F.2d 266 (1983) Audio file:
- 6. Rogers v. Commissioner of Dept. of Mental Health, 390 Mass. 489, 458 N.E.2d 308 (1983) Audio file:
- 7. Washington v. Harper, 494 U.S. 210, 110 S.Ct. 1028 (1990) Audio file:
- 8. Hargrave v. Vermont, 340 F.3d 27 (2003) Audio file:
- 9. Sell v. U.S., 539 U.S. 166, 123 S.Ct. 2174 (2003) Audio file:
C. Right to Die
- 10. Washington v. Glucksberg, 117 S.Ct. 2258 (1997) (including concurring opinion) Audio file:
D. Civil Commitment
- 11. Lake v. Cameron, 364 F.2d 657 (1966) *, **** Audio file:
- 12. Lessard v. Schmidt, 349 F.Supp. 1078 (1972) **, **** Audio file:
- 13. O’Connor v. Donaldson, 422 U.S. 563, 95 S.Ct. 2486 (1975) Audio file:
- 14. Addington v. Texas, 441 U.S. 418, 99 S.Ct. 1804 (1979) Audio file:
- 15. Parham v. JR, 442 U.S. 584, 99 S.Ct. 2493 (1979) Audio file:
- 16. Zinermon v. Burch, 494 U.S. 113, 110 S.Ct. 975 (1990) Audio file:
PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP CASES
A. Informed Consent
- 17. Canterbury v. Spence, 150 U.S. App. D.C. 263, 464 F.2d 772 (1972) Audio file
- 18. Kaimowitz v. Michigan DMH, 1 MDLR 147 (1973) Audio file
- 19. Cruzan v. Director, Missouri DMH, 497 U.S 261, 110 S.Ct. 2841 (1990) Audio file
B. Confidentiality/Privilege/Privacy
- 20. In re Lifschutz, 2 Cal. 3d 415, 467 P.2d 557 (1970) Audio file
- 21. Doe v. Roe, 400 N.Y.Supp. 2d 668 (1977) Audio file
- 22. Jaffee v. Redmond, 116 S.Ct. 1923 (1996) Audio file
C. Liability to Patients
- 23. Roy v. Hartogs, 381 N.Y.S. 2d 587 (1976) Audio file
- 24. Clites v. Iowa, 322 N.W. 2d 917 (Iowa Ct. App. 1982) Audio file
D. Duty to Protect
- 25. Tarasoff v. Regents of University of California, 17 Cal. 3d 425, 551 P.2d 334, 131 Cal. Rptr. 14 (1976) Audio file
- 26. Lipari v. Sears, 497 F.Supp. 185 (D. Neb. 1980) Audio file
CRIMINAL PROCESS CASES
A. Competency to Stand Trial
- 27. Dusky v. U.S., 362 U.S. 402, 80 S.Ct. 788 (1960) Audio file
- 28. Wilson v. U.S., 129 U.S. App. D.C. 107, 391 F.2d 460 (1968) Audio file
- 29. Jackson v. Indiana, 406 U.S. 715, 92 S.Ct. 1845 (1972) Audio file
- 30. Riggins v. Nevada, 112 S.Ct. 1810 (1992) Audio file
- 31. Godinez v. Moran, 113 S.Ct. 2680 (1993) Audio file
- 32. Cooper v. Oklahoma, 116 S.Ct. 1373 (1996) Audio file
- 33. Indiana v. Edwards, 554 U.S. 164 (2008) Audio file
B. Criminal Responsibility
i. Insanity Defense
- 34. M’Naghten’s Case, 8 Eng. Rep. 718, SEng Rep. 722 (1843) Audio file
- 35. Durham v. U.S., 94 U.S. App. D.C. 228, 214 F.2d 862 (1954) Audio file
- 36. Washington v. U.S., 129 U.S. App. D.C. 29, 390 F.2d 444 (1967) Audio file
- 37. Frendak v. U.S., 408 A.2d 364 (1979) Audio file
- 38. Jones v. U.S., 463 U.S. 354, 103 S.Ct. 3043 (1983) Audio file
- 39. Foucha v. Louisiana, 112 S.Ct. 1780 (1992) Audio file
- 40. Clark v. Arizona, 548 U.S. 735, 126 S.Ct. 2709 (2006) Audio file
- 41. Kahler v. Kansas, 140 S. CT 1021 (2020) Audio file
ii. Diminished Capacity
- 42. Ibn-Tamas v. U.S., 407 A.2d 626 (D.C. 1979) Audio file
- 43. Montana v. Engelhoff, 116 S.Ct. 2013 (1996) Audio file
C. Psychiatry and the Death Penalty
- 44. Estelle v. Smith, 451 U.S. 454, 101 S.Ct. 1866 (1981) Audio file
- 45. Barefoot v. Estelle, 463 U.S. 880, 103 S.Ct. 3383 (1983) Audio file
- 46. Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68, 105 S.Ct. 1087 (1985) Audio file
- 47. Ford v. Wainwright, 477 U.S. 399, 106 S.Ct. 2595 (1986) Audio file
- 48. Payne v. Tennessee, 111 S.Ct. 2597 (1991)
- 49. State v. Perry, 610 So.2d 746 (1992) Audio file
- 50. Atkins v. Virginia, 536 U.S. 304, 122 S.Ct. 2242 (2002) Audio file
- 51. Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551, 125 S.Ct. 1183 (2005) Audio file
- 52. Panetti v. Quarterman, 127 S. Ct. 2842 (2007) Audio file
- 53. Hall v. Florida, 134 S. Ct. 1986 (2014) Audio file
- 54. Madison v. Alabama, 139 S. CT. 718 (2019) Audio file
- 55. McWilliams v. Dunn, 137 S. CT. 1240 (2017) Audio file
- 56. Buck v. Davis, 137 S. CT. 759 (2017) Audio file
D. Prisoner’s Rights
- 57. Baxstrom v. Herold, 383 U.S. 107, 86 S.Ct. 760 (1966) Audio file
- 58. Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 97 S.Ct. 285 (1976) Audio file
- 59. Vitek v. Jones, 445 U.S 480, 100 S.Ct. 1254 (1980) Audio file
- 60. Farmer v. Brennan, 114 S.Ct. 1970 (1994) Audio file
- 61. Brown v. Plata 134 S.Ct. 436 (2011) Audio file
E. Defendant’s Rights
i. Confessions
- 62. Colorado v. Connelly, 479 U.S. 157, 107 S.Ct. 515 (1986) Audio file
ii. Guilty Pleas
- 63. North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.S. 25, 91 S.Ct. 160 (1970) Audio file
iii. Sex Offenders
- 64. Specht v. Patterson, 386 U.S. 605, 87 S.Ct. 1209 (1967) Audio file
- 65. Allen v. Illinois, 478 U.S. 364, 106 S.Ct. 2988 (1986) Audio file
- 66. Kansas v. Hendricks, 117 S.Ct. 2072 (1997) Audio file
- 67. Kansas v. Crane, 534 U.S. 407, 122 S.Ct. 867 (2002) Audio file
- 68. McKune v. Lile, 536 U.S. 24, 122 S.Ct. 2017 (2002) Audio file
- 69. U.S. v. Comstock, 560 U.S. 126, 130 S.Ct. 1949 (2010) Audio file
F. Drugs/Alcohol
- 70. Robinson v. California, 370 U.S. 660, 82 S.Ct. 1417 (1962) Audio file
- 71. Powell v. Texas, 392 U.S. 514, 88 S.Ct. 2145 (1968) Audio file
G. Hypnosis
- 72. State v. Hurd, 173 N.J. Super. 333, 414 A.2d 291 (1980) Audio file
- 73. Rock v. Arkansas, 483 U.S. 44, 107 S.Ct. 2704 (1987)
- 74. Dillon v. Legg, 68 Cal. 2d 728, 441 P.2d 912 (1968) Audio file
EMOTIONAL HARM/DISABILITY/WORKPLACE CASES
A. Americans With Disabilities Act
- 75. Bragdon v. Abbott, 118 S.Ct. 2196 (1998) Audio file
- 76. Olmstead v. L. C. ex rei. Zimring, 119 S.Ct. 2176 (1999) Audio file
- 77. U.S. v. Georgia, 546 U.S. 151, 126 S.Ct. 877 (2006) Audio file
B. Sexual Harassment
- 78. Meritor Savings Bank FSB v. Vinson, 106 S.Ct. 2399 (1986) Audio file
- 79. Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 114 S.Ct. 367 (1993) Audio file
- 80. Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 118 S.Ct. 998 (1998) Audio file
C. Expert Witness Testimony Standards
- 81. Frye v. U.S., 293 F. 1013 (1923) Audio file
- 82. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc., 61 U.S.L.W. 4805, 113 S.Ct. 2786 (1993) Audio file
- 83. Kumho Tire Co., Ltd. v. Carmichael, 119 S.Ct. 1167 (1999) Audio file
CHILD CASES
A. Child Abuse Reporting
- 84. Landeros v. Flood, 17 Cal. 3d 399, 551 P.2d 389 (1976) Audio file
- 85. People v. Stritzinger, 34 Cal. 3d 505, 668 P.2d 738 (1983) Audio file
- 86. State v. Andring, 342 N.W.2d 128 (Minn. 1984) Audio file
- 87. DeShaney v. Winnebago County Dept. of Social Services, 489 U.S. 189, 109 S.Ct. 998 (1989) Audio file
B. Juvenile Court
- 88. Application of Gault, 387 U.S. 1, 87 S.Ct. 1428 (1967) Audio file
- 89. Fare v. Michael C., 442 U.S. 707 (1979) Audio file
C. Education-Related Services
- 90. Board of Education of Hendrick Hudson Central School Dist. Westchester County v. Rowley, 458 U.S. 176, 102 S.Ct. 3034 (1982) Audio file
- 91. Irving Independent School District v. Tatro, 468 U.S. 883, 104 S.Ct. 3371 (1984) Audio file
D. Custody
- 92. Painter v. Bannister, 258 Iowa 1390, 140 N.W.2d 152 (1966) Audio file
- 93. Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745, 102 S.Ct. 1388 (1982) Audio file
E. Juvenile Sentencing
- 94. Graham v. Florida 560 U.S. 48, 130 S.Ct. (2011) Audio file
- 95. Miller v. Alabama, 132 S. Ct. 2455 (2012) Audio file