Monday, January 30, 2012

People v. Hartshorn (Cal. Ct. App. - Jan. 20, 2012)

I liked this footnote by Justice O'Rourke (in a case involving the extended committment of a mentally challenged individual):

"The term 'mentally retarded person' is used in Welfare and Institutions Code section 6500, which is the statute providing the grounds for Hartshorn's commitment. We use that term because the Legislature has not sought fit to amend the statute using different terminology."

Subtle and appropriate.