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Simple English definitions for legal terms
M'Naughten rules
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A quick definition of M'Naughten rules:
The M'Naughten rules are a set of guidelines used in criminal law to determine if a person is responsible for their actions. These rules state that if a person has a mental disability that prevented them from knowing what they were doing or whether it was right or wrong, they cannot be held criminally responsible. This test is used in most states and federal courts. It only applies to cases where there is a defect of reason from a disease of the mind, and if the defendant acted under an insane delusion, their accountability to the criminal law is the same as if the facts were as they seemed to them.
A more thorough explanation:
The M'Naughten rules, also known as the McNaughten rules, are a legal doctrine used in criminal law. They state that a person cannot be held criminally responsible for an act if they were mentally disabled and did not know the nature and quality of the act or whether it was right or wrong.
For example, if someone with a mental disability commits a crime but did not understand that what they were doing was wrong, they cannot be held responsible for the crime under the M'Naughten rules.
The M'Naughten rules have been adopted by most states in the US and are used as a test to determine whether a defendant is legally insane and therefore not responsible for their actions.