Durham rule

noun

: a formerly used legal test under which a person was not judged responsible for a criminal act that was attributed to a mental disorder

Word History

Etymology

Monte Durham, 20th century American litigant

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Durham rule was in 1955

Dictionary Entries Near Durham rule

Durham boat

Durham rule

durian

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Cite this Entry

“Durham rule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Durham%20rule. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Legal Definition

Durham rule

noun
Dur·​ham rule
ˈdu̇r-əm-, ˈdər-
: a rule of criminal law used in some states that holds that in order to find a defendant not guilty by reason of insanity the defendant's criminal act must be the product of a mental disease or defect compare irresistible impulse test, m'naghten test, substantial capacity test
Etymology

from Durham v. United States, 214 F.2d 862 (1954), a case heard by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals that established the rule

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