Religious Freedom Being Used To Fight Court-Ordered Psychiatric Treatment

A recent ruling by a three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals highlights the importance of considering religious objections in cases of involuntary medication for trial readiness. The panel, comprising U.S. Circuit Judges Jennifer Walker Elrod, James Ho, and Andrew Oldham, emphasized that religious faith can be a special circumstance, in line with the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sell v. United States. This can influence the government's interest in bringing a defendant like Harris to trial.

The case involves a Mississippi man, Harris, who was arrested in 2020 for making threats against U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan. Following a behavioral health evaluation, it was determined that Harris was not competent to stand trial. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons was directed to hospitalize him for up to four months to assess his capacity to face trial. However, Harris objected to involuntary treatment, citing constitutional protection of his liberty, especially concerning his religious beliefs.

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