Leland v. Oregon — Frankfurter, J., dissenting

Summary

Justice Frankfurter dissents, arguing that Oregon's statute shifting the burden of proving insanity to the defendant violates the Fourteenth Amendment due process because it requires the accused to prove a lack of culpability beyond a reasonable doubt, contrary to the principle that the State must prove every element of a crime. He contends that such a burden shift impermissibly endangers life without the procedural safeguards guaranteed by due process.