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MÂ’Naghten rules definition - legal

n

The insanity defense as codified in federal law and the law of many states, in terms of whether a mental disease or defect interfered either with the defendantÂ’s understanding of the nature of the criminal act or the difference between right and wrong.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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