Giffords shooting suspect in court over competency

Criminal Law

The suspect in the Tucson shooting rampage that wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords appears in court Wednesday for a hearing to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial and assist in his defense.

Jared Lee Loughner spent five weeks in March and April at a federal facility in Springfield, Mo., where two court-appointed mental health professionals examined him to determine whether he understands the consequences of the case against him. The competency reports by psychologist Christina Pietz and psychiatrist Matthew Carroll haven't been publicly released.

It's up to U.S. District Judge Larry Burns, who is holding the hearing in Tucson, to decide whether Loughner is competent to stand trial.

The case will continue to move forward if the judge determines Loughner is mentally competent. If he is found to be mentally incompetent, he would be sent to a federal facility for a maximum of four months to see if he can be restored to competency.

Loughner, 22, has pleaded not guilty to 49 federal charges stemming from the Jan. 8 shooting at a meet-and-greet event that wounded Giffords and 12 others and killed six people, including a 9-year-old girl and a federal judge.

Prosecutors had asked for the mental exam of Loughner, citing a YouTube video in which they believe a hooded Loughner wore garbage bags and burned an American flag.

Related listings

  • Fifth Somali guilty plea entered in piracy trial

    Fifth Somali guilty plea entered in piracy trial

    Criminal Law 05/25/2011

    Two more Somali men pleaded guilty on Monday to piracy for their roles in the hijacking of a yacht that left four Americans dead, including one who identified which of the 19 men fired at hostages aboard the boat.Burhan Abdirahman Yusuf and Jilani Ab...

  • OC woman sentenced for embezzlement

    OC woman sentenced for embezzlement

    Criminal Law 05/24/2011

    Orange County prosecutors say a law office manager has been sentenced to four years in state prison for embezzling more than $500,000 from her firm and spending the cash on a lavish lifestyle. The district attorney's office says 68-year-old Donna Joy...

  • Not guilty plea entered for teen in NJ webcam case

    Not guilty plea entered for teen in NJ webcam case

    Criminal Law 05/21/2011

    A former Rutgers student accused of using a webcam to spy on his roommate's same-sex encounter pleaded not guilty Monday to 15 charges including bias intimidation, invasion of privacy and evidence tampering. It was the first court appearance for 19-y...

Illinois Work Injury Lawyers – Krol, Bongiorno & Given, LTD.

Accidents in the workplace are often caused by unsafe work conditions arising from ignoring safety rules, overlooking maintenance or other negligence of those in management. While we are one of the largest firms in Illinois dedicated solely to the representation of injured workers, we pride ourselves on the personal, one-on-one approach we deliver to each client.

Work accidents can cause serious injuries and sometimes permanent damage. Some extremely serious work injuries can permanently hinder a person’s ability to get around and continue their daily duties. Factors that affect one’s quality of life such as place of work, relationships with friends and family, and social standing can all be taken away quickly by a work injury. Although, you may not be able to recover all of your losses, you may be entitled to compensation as a result of your work injury. Krol, Bongiorno & Given, LTD. provides informed advocacy in all kinds of workers’ compensation claims, including:

• Injuries to the back and neck, including severe spinal cord injuries
• Serious head injuries
• Heart problems resulting from workplace activities
• Injuries to the knees, elbows, shoulders and other joints
• Injuries caused by repetitive movements

For Illinois Workers’ Compensation claims, you will ALWAYS cheat yourself if you do not hire an experienced attorney. When you hire Krol, Bongiorno & Given, Ltd, you will have someone to guide you through the process, and when it is time to settle, we will add value to your case IN EXCESS of our fee. In the last few years, employers and insurance carriers have sought to advance the argument that when you settle a case without an attorney, your already low settlement should be further reduced by 20% so that you do not get a “windfall.” Representing yourself in Illinois is a lose-lose proposition.

Business News

St Peters, MO Professional License Attorney Attorney John Lynch has been the go-to choice for many professionals facing administrative sanction. >> read