United States v. Sell
United States Supreme Court
539 U.S. 166 (2003)
Charles Sell (defendant), facing non-violent fraud charges, was committed to a prison hospital after mental illness and threatening pretrial behavior raised competency concerns, and hospital staff sought to administer antipsychotic medication over his objection, citing both dangerousness and the need to restore competency. The district court rejected the dangerousness finding but ordered involuntary medication solely to restore competency, the Eighth Circuit affirmed, and the Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Whether a court may order a criminal defendant involuntarily medicated solely to restore his trial competency, without adequately weighing the medication's effect on his ability to assist in his own defense or considering less intrusive alternatives.