Singleton v. Norris.U.S. Appeals Court INVOLUNTARY MEDICATION PSYCHOTROPIC psychotropic /psy·cho·tro·pic/ (si?ko-tro´pik) exerting an effect on the mind; capable of modifying mental activity; said especially of drugs. psy·cho·tro·pic (s  DRUG Singleton v. Norris, 319 F.3d 1018 (8th Cir. 2003). A death row prisoner who was being forcibly administered psychotropic medication sought an order ordering a halt to the treatment. The state court denied his motions and he petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus seeking a stay of execution of his death sentence. The district court denied the petition and the prisoner appealed. The appeals court affirmed, finding that, on a matter of first impression first impression adj. referring to a legal issue which has never been decided by an appeals court and, therefore, there is no precedent for the court to follow. To reach a decision the court must use analogies from prior rulings by appeals courts, refer to commentaries and articles by legal scholars, and its own logic. In such cases the trial judge usually asks for legal briefs by attorneys for both sides to assist him/her., a state does not violate the Eighth Amendment or due process by executing an inmate who has regained competency through forced medication that is part of appropriate medical care. (State of Arkansas) |
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