Indiana Supreme Court
Jesse L. Payne v. State of Indiana
May 18, 2020
Summary
The Indiana Supreme Court reversed Jesse Payne’s guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑mental‑illness (GBMI) conviction and entered a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity (NGRI) verdict, finding the State’s demeanor evidence insufficient to overcome unanimous expert testimony and Payne’s extensive documented mental illness. The Court remanded for a hearing on the State’s petition for involuntary commitment under Indiana Code § 35‑36‑2‑4. A dissent argued the majority misapplied the deferential standard of review.