Detailed Analysis: The Supreme Court Case of Kahler v. Kansas

This case study analyzes the Supreme Court case of Kahler v. Kansas (2019), focusing on the defendant James Kahler, who killed his family and raised an insanity defense. The case explores the intersection of mental illness and criminal responsibility, specifically concerning the constitutionality of Kansas's approach to the insanity defense. The court considered whether Kansas's standard, which didn't allow for a mens rea-based insanity defense, violated the 14th and 8th Amendments. The analysis includes the factual background, the legal arguments presented, and the court's opinion, which ultimately upheld the state's right to determine its insanity defense standard, emphasizing that it did not violate constitutional rights. The decision highlighted the importance of balancing individual rights with the state's ability to define criminal responsibility, providing insights into the evolving legal landscape of mental health and criminal justice.

Running head- THE JUDGEMENT OF THE SUPREME COURT CASE
The Judgment of the Supreme Court Case
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1The Judgment of the Supreme Court Case
No. 18-6135
IN THE Supreme Court of the United States
JAMES K. KAHLER, Petitioner,
v.
STATE OF KANSAS, Respondent.
On Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court of Kansas
Factual Background Of the Case
As per the facts derived through the evidence submitted to the court, it is derived that James
Kahler and his wife Karen and they had two kids. However, later the council proved that
Karen had an extramarital affair for which she filed a divorce suit. Later, when Kahler’s rest
of the family was celebrating thanksgiving at Karen’s house, Kahler appeared unexpectedly
and killed her grandmother. Kahler was charged with murder under 18 U.S Code Section
1111. Kahler further stated that the reason for the act is out of the depression of the divorce.
However, the jury convicted Kahler guilty of capital murder and recommended Death
Sentence. However, the party appealed to the Supreme Court in the defense that the lower
court did not provide him the chance to submit his defense on the basis that the court did not
provide him with the opportunity to present his insanity defense.
The Jury will provide its opinion keeping the charges of the lower court as a valuable
opinion and proceed further with the judgment.
Opinion
1. Kahler shall not get the defense of men's rea approach to the insanity defense as it is
the violation of the 14th amendment as it focuses on taking someone's life that is not
guarded by the fundamental rights provided in the Constitution. Leading his own life

2The Judgment of the Supreme Court Case
is a fundamental right but not taking away someone’s life. There shall be specific tests
to determine the extent of insanity that can be acceptable and guarded under the
fundamental rights.
2. Kahler's approach as his insanity defense does not violate the 8th amendment of the
constitution and will not be granted. The 8th Amendment of the constitution forbids
cruel and unusual punishments (Twist et al, 2019). However, following the instances,
it is evident that the act of Kahler was cruel as it had both mens rea add actus reus for
committing the crime. The test for the right act and wrong act should be applied.
Although he was depressed, he knew the consequences of killing a person and hence
will be liable for the same.
3. In the opinion of the court insanity, defense test should be laid in order to understand
the extent of insanity that shall not violate the 8th and the 14th (Corrado, 2019)
Amendment of the Constitution.
Conclusion
As per the decisions laid down by the lower court, the Supreme Court grants the
Certiorari of Kahler’s case. Further, the Court gives the desecration to the government to lay
down their test to determine the insanity level in a criminal case that shall not violate any
laws laid down in the Constitution.

3The Judgment of the Supreme Court Case
Reference
Corrado, M. (2019). Kahler v. Kansas: Insanity and the Historical Understanding of Mens
Rea. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3442475
Twist, S. J., Cassell, P. G., Ho, A. N., Hubbard, B., & Ehrett, J. (2019). James Kraig Kahler
v. State of Kansas: On Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court of the State of
Kansas. State of Kansas: On Writ of Certiorari to the Supreme Court of the State of
Kansas (August 19, 2019).