Montana v. Engelhoff

Citation

518 U.S. 37 (1996)

Facts

Stub — to be completed.

Issue

Stub — to be completed.

Holding

Stub — to be completed.

Rule

A state may constitutionally prohibit defendants from introducing evidence of voluntary intoxication to negate the mens rea element of a crime; due process does not require states to allow voluntary intoxication as a defense.

Significance

States have wide latitude to abolish the voluntary intoxication defense; no deeply rooted historical tradition requires admission of such evidence for purposes of negating mens rea.

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