U.S. District Judge Larry Burns ordered an emergency hearing yesterday to determine whether Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner should continue to be involuntarily medicated.
Prosecutors filed a motion yesterday arguing that Loughner should be given anti-psychotic medication because he's been diagnosed as schizophrenic and is a danger to others.
His behavior while behind bars certainly supports the prosecution's argument.
From the Associated Press:
On April 4, Loughner spit at his own attorney, lunged at her and had to be restrained by prison staff, prosecutors said.
Their filing also says that during a taped interview with a psychiatrist March 28, Loughner suddenly became enraged, cursed at him, threw a plastic chair at him twice, and then wet a roll of toilet paper and tried to throw it at the camera before hurling the chair twice more.
The filing also said Loughner was repeatedly encouraged to attend a June 14 prison administrative hearing about his medication, but he refused to participate, "and instead barricaded himself, lying down by his bed."
The hearing found that Loughner was a danger to himself, according to court records.
Clearly, Loughner needs medication. His attorneys, however, argue that he shouldn't be involuntarily medicated without the approval of a judge.
Burns has set the hearing for 2 p.m., at which point he will determine whether to keep medicating Loughner.
We want to know what you think: should Loughner be involuntarily medicated?
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