EPISODE · Jun 11, 2026 · 35 MIN
621: The insanity defense: Does being crazy make you not guilty?
from Beer and Conversation with Pigweed and Crowhill · host Pigweed and Crowhill
Is the insanity defense a get-out-of-jail-free card — or does "not knowing right from wrong" actually make you more dangerous? Pigweed and Crowhill dig into one of law's most misunderstood doctrines: what the insanity defense actually requires, why it succeeds in only about 25% of the cases where it's even attempted, and why the guys think the standard argument runs backwards. From the Son of Sam's killer dog (mostly a myth) to the McNaughton Rule, the Garfield assassination, James Holmes, and a Florida State student who believed he was half dog — the case studies are wild, but the underlying question is serious: when someone genuinely can't distinguish right from wrong, is that a reason for leniency, or a reason they should never be released?Also: a blood orange blonde ale from Molly's down in Prince Frederick. It actually tastes like orange. High praise.#InsanityDefense #TrueCrime #LegalHistory #Podcast #CriminalJustice📬 Send us your thoughts: [email protected] 🌐 More episodes: pigweedandcrowhill.com👍 Like, subscribe, and tell a friend
What this episode covers
Is the insanity defense a get-out-of-jail-free card — or does "not knowing right from wrong" actually make you more dangerous? Pigweed and Crowhill dig into one of law's most misunderstood doctrines: what the insanity defense actually requires, why it succeeds in only about 25% of the cases where it's even attempted, and why the guys think the standard argument runs backwards. From the Son of Sam's killer dog (mostly a myth) to the McNaughton Rule, the Garfield assassination, James Holmes, and a Florida State student who believed he was half dog — the case studies are wild, but the underlying question is serious: when someone genuinely can't distinguish right from wrong, is that a reason for leniency, or a reason they should never be released?Also: a blood orange blonde ale from Molly's down in Prince Frederick. It actually tastes like orange. High praise.#InsanityDefense #TrueCrime #LegalHistory #Podcast #CriminalJustice📬 Send us your thoughts: [email protected] 🌐 More episodes: pigweedandcrowhill.com👍 Like, subscribe, and tell a friend
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621: The insanity defense: Does being crazy make you not guilty?
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