“Dressing psychiatrists like wizards on the witness stand”

Checking out a published report, Erik Magraken contacted former New Mexico state senator Duncan Scott and found that it was true, the lawmaker had indeed introduced a legislative amendment in 1995 providing that:

When a psychologist or psychiatrist testifies during a defendant’s competency hearing, the psychologist or psychiatrist shall wear a cone-shaped hat that is not less than two feet tall. The surface of the hat shall be imprinted with stars and lightning bolts. Additionally, a psychologist or psychiatrist shall be required to don a white beard that is not less than 18 inches in length, and shall punctuate crucial elements of his testimony by stabbing the air with a wand. Whenever a psychologist or psychiatrist provides expert testimony regarding a defendant’s competency, the bailiff shall contemporaneously dim the courtroom lights and administer two strikes to a Chinese gong…

The amendment — intended satirically, one should hasten to add –“passed with a unanimous Senate vote” but was removed from its bill before consideration by the state house and never became law. (& Coyote, Above the Law)

8 Comments

  • They should also be requires to intone “Do not mistake me for a conjurer of cheap tricks”, see http://www.hark.com/clips/cdfjbmszcg-do-not-take-me-for-some-conjuror-of-cheap-tricks

  • I’m sort of liking this… as a starting point.

    All doctors must appear in the guise of shamans?

    All engineers in white lab coats?

    All politicians in stocks?

    All cops like Dudley Doright?

  • Lawyers in Fools Caps with bells. Or bring back powered wigs!

  • Lawyers dressed in black ski masks would be more like it.

  • Lawyers dressed as Prostitutes – the only other profession who will do what their client wants for money even if morally suspect.

  • Lawyers dressed as (expensive) prostitutes AND black ski masks!

  • […] overlawyered.com we hear that in 1995, New Mexico state senator Duncan Scott introduced a legislative ammendment […]

  • […] bad it didn’t pass: The amendment — intended satirically, one should hasten to add –”passed with a unanimous […]